Today the sale of Brooks Brothers went before a judge, while this evening news broke that Brooks Brothers has sold the Haverhill, MA Southwick factory.
Eastern Real Estate will buy the building and 21 acres of the property for $14 million.
Brooks Brothers filed for bankruptcy six weeks ago.
Two other firms – the mall owner Simon Properties and Authentic Brands – have bought Brooks Brothers.
It’s unclear what the sale means for the 400 people who work at Southwick. Their union sent a letter to the CEO of Authentic Brands asking him to save the factory and keep manufacturing in the U.S., but so far, there’s been no response.
Those workers are the last of their kind. If they must exit, may their farewell footsteps trod proudly upon a bittersweet rainbow. — CC
HSM and HF will make the tailored wear. They will also bring in a name designer. Joseph Abboud may be in play for the designer.
“HSM and HF will make the tailored wear. They will also bring in a name designer. Joseph Abboud may be in play for the designer.”
You are referring to BB aren’t you. Not the Southwick factory ?
Having Aboudd as designer doesn’t auger well for a revived BB
Ivy style.
Roger Sack- You have that right. Probably an understatement.
Not sure why they need a designer. Just look in the archives and send to the factory which, unfortunately, may not be Southwick.
BB’s death and attempt at resurrection will probably have the dignity of Ayatollah Khomani’s funeral. The pallbearers in Thom Browne suits.
Will
Abboud…..more or less straight to the rails of TK Maxx then…
It seems we’ve run out of options. If I could roll the clock back 20 years, I would go to McConnell’s and get measured up for some “grail” staples. Could I have obtained a MTM BB sack suit at that time?
Bluto: What? Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
It ain’t over now, ’cause when the goin’ gets tough, the tough get goin’. Who’s with me? Let’s go! Come on!…(He runs to the front door but no one followed him)
Bluto (returning): What the happened to the Delta I used to know? Where’s the spirit? Where’s the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you’re gonna let it be the worst. ‘Ooh, we’re afraid to go with you, Bluto, we might get in trouble.’ (shouting) Well, just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I’m not gonna take this. Wormer, he’s a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer…
Otter: Dead! Bluto’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now, we could fight ’em with conventional weapons. That could take years and cost millions of lives. No, in this case, I think we have to go all out. I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
We’re just the guys to do it!
BB is becoming the next Burberry. Flashy designers and runway shows, off-shoring of manufacturing, and exorbitant prices.
Joseph Abboud is smart retailer. Just look how much money he has made from his “brand’ name. He started off working for Ralph Lauren. SO i think he could be a great resource for bringing the past back to the future. His stores are very tasty if you like earthy tones. His store on Madison Ave is a great place to buy something that isn’t navy or red. Aka a classic blazer and tie combination. He paid his dues. Hopefully he doesn’t get passed over just because of his licensing agreements with Mens warehouse and Peerless.
I think it would be great if Mr. Abboud took the reins of the design team at Brooks Brothers. He is the most talented, humble, hardest-working menswear designer today.
A few years ago, I read an interview with Mr. Abboud that Christian made for a menswear trade journal. Earth tones and cool, zen-like colors are a perfect fit for the current stressful zeitgeist.
“Not sure why they need a designer. Just look in the archives and send to the factory which, unfortunately, may not be Southwick.”
I agree, NaturalShoulder. The designing has been done. All the new owner has to do is keep alive the place where classic designs become classic clothes. RIP, Southwick.
In case anyone was wondering, the Southwick factory building is now an Amazon distribution hub. Typical. Very sad.
Joseph Abboud started working at Louis in Boston as a salesman. He left Louis and went to work at Grieco Bros, whose label was Southwick, on Canal St. in Lawrence, MA as a merchandiser. He only worked there a couple of months before going to work as a merchandiser at Polo, just around the corner from Grieco Bros. on Union St.