[ STORE MOVED 2019 NO MORE NEON ] Great Neon Sign at 2nd Oldest Men’s Clothing Stores in the US! Weitzenkorn’s Pottstown, PA

2019: Weitzenkorn’s moved from their original historic location in Pottstown, to Phoenixville. They did not take the sign with them.

2017 Update: The sight of that beautiful sign peeking through the bare tree branches on High Street in Pottstown made me pull over and pop into Weitzenkorn’s to check in. Happy to report things are just swell!

I had a lovely chat with David, who graciously explained to me the latest in Men’s Suits (no pleat front pants, please!) and Sandy filled me in on what goes on in the lower level (see photos below). Since we last visited a 5th generation of Weitzenkorn (Aaron) has been added to the payroll, and they’ve got a spiffed up e-commerce website as a result.

But our heart belongs to this bricks and mortar location, as you’ll see why in these photos.

Not in use but still usable are these pneumatic tubes (the gold arch in the photo below), that would send a customer’s payment to the office instead of handling the transaction at the counter. How cool!

When in the lower level you’ll see the tubes running through the ceiling, like a Rube Goldberg contraption.

Speaking of the lower level, it once was the Boy’s Department, but now houses their Tommy Bahama collection. Take a look at the staircase and banisters, made from long branches and split logs!

While thankfully Retro Roadhusband hasn’t turned into a corporate suite-and-tie man, we now know that he can come here to rent a tux, or maybe one day splurge on some custom made shirts. Heck, Mod B would like some custom made shirts, look at all those choices!

There are still plenty of vintage bits and pieces on display in the cases, testifying to their over 150 years in business.

Here’s to another 153 years in business, and thanks for keeping that glorious sign in good repair! 

Original 2011 Post:

I’ve loved this well kept neon sign of Weitzenkorn’s Men’s Store for years and am glad that Retro Roadmap gave me the excuse to pull over and snap a photo of it to share. How else would I have found out that the country’s second oldest Men’s store is located in Pottstown PA? Still family owned, the business began in 1864!

According to the Historic Pottstown Walking Tour plaque outside of the store, this location has been open since 1877 and the first electric lamp in Pottstown was installed in this store in 1889. The Weitzenkorn’s certainly know something about keeping the lamp light burning bright.

While Retro Roadhusband isn’t typically in the market for suits, next time he needs something formal to wear we’ll head over to visit this historic shop to have a looksee. I know it’s a place that my dad would have approved of  (Brooks Brothers is the oldest men’s clothing store in the country, dad certainly approved of them). If nothing else, I’d love to see the display case of memorabilia dating back to the 1890’s.

My RetroRoadmap hat goes off to Marc and Gregg Weitzenkorn, for keeping this family business going strong, and their fabulous vintage sign in excellent shape!

Read More about Weitzenkorn’s and see some more photos on my writeup of the Pottstown Lattice of Coincidence!