Theodore's Men's Wear

If there was a store in Wallace that was "classy", it was " Theodore's Men's Wear" on Cedar Street. Located right next door to Fonks, Theodore's offered an old world charm. The proprietor  was one Theodore Chemadurow, an elegant looking gentleman of Russian decent. The Chemadurows lived right around the corner from us on Third and Bank .

Mr, Chemadurow was with out doubt the most meticulously dressed man in Wallace. The clothing store that he owned and operated was no less immaculate. The display windows and the walk- way into the store was in a kind of V shape. The displays were of dress clothes and men's hats. Now, we are not talking caps, stocking hats, or any of the things worn as hats now days. No, we are talking dress hats, and my dad always wore one. One of the stories that I remember most from my dad that he told about Mr. Chemadurow was when Dad into Theodore's one day, and Mr. Chemadurow asked him if he could use a new suit. Dad told him no thank you, and the same about a new dress shirt. He them asked Dad is  needed a hat, and Dad said that he had one. Without missing a beat, Mr, Chemadurow said " But you need a fresh one." Dad bought a new hat that day.

The word "fresh' summed up very accurately Theodore's in Wallace. Nothing was ever out of place in that store, The sidewalk in front of the store was swept clean everyday in the summer, and kept free of ice and snow in the long Wallace winters. Theodore's was indeed a class act.

One would not really be able to identify the store building now. The front was encase long ago, and the elegant display windows and V walk way only distant memories in the minds of us who grew up there.

Ah, the good old days, when class was class, and men;s clothes were more than T shirts with crosses and skulls on them.

Mr, Theodore Chemadurow, you were a gentleman and a scholar.