William Wermerskirchen has stood behind the counter at Bill’s Toggery for 91 years. Depending on the decade, visitors to downtown Shakopee may have bought fine men’s clothing from William the First, the Second or the Third. William the Fourth, who is now seven years old, has yet to express a strong interest in someday becoming a clothier, but it’s safe to say it’s in the lad’s bones.
Bill’s Toggery still offers the same great services which kept the store afloat during the Great Depression. Their dry cleaners will press a crease into your dress pants sharp as a knife blade, and their full-time tailor turns tape measurements into beautiful well-fitting suits. A lesser men’s clothier will dress you to the threes at best. Bill’s dresses their customers to no less than the nines.
“This place has always felt like an extension of my home,” said Billy, owner of Bill’s Toggery. “I’d play here as a little boy, hiding behind racks of clothing and pretending the changing rooms were caves. My dad encouraged me to go to college – which I did – but I never had any doubt in my mind that I’d return to run the family business.
“I don’t like to diminish the big chain stores and online retailers. I’m actually grateful for them because they inadvertently send me a lot of business. Whenever a man buys a suit off the rack and looks terrible in it, we’re here to perform the alterations he needs to look sharp. We tailor to men sized 36 short to 60 extra long, and we never produce an item I wouldn’t proudly wear on my own floor. Nobody knows the impact a great suit makes better than I do.
“Ironically enough, I believe women are our happiest customers. When a lady has spent countless hours picking out the perfect wedding dress, she can depend on us to make sure her man won’t look out of place beside her at the altar. We’ll suit every groomsman for the big occasion as well.
“Suits, sport coats, dress shirts and pants – we do it all. Dress clothes will always remain the backbone of Bill’s, but we also dress men for decidedly more casual outings. We carry stylish yet comfortable jeans by 34 Heritage, SoCal-inspired casual wear by Johnnie-O and TravisMathew, refined sportswear by Peter Millar, and a great selection of shoes by Johnston & Murphy.
“If active apparel is your style, we have brands like Vuori, 7Diamonds and Tasc Performance. We also offer running shoes by On, a Swiss company that has mastered the fusion of style, comfort and long-lasting durability. You’ll be surprised by how much greater quality you can enjoy when you shop our curated brands.
“Owning a third-generation business like mine feels as much like I’m passing down a legacy as I am working a job. I’ve read that the odds of a business lasting as long as Bill’s are ten against one. I’ve kept up with modern times without sacrificing the small store feel that my customers like.
“It’s worth visiting Bill’s just to see our 1920s-inspired Custom Shoppe. This location was a bank before my grandfather founded our store here in 1931. Charles August Lindbergh served on that bank’s board of directors, and it’s here that his son borrowed the money to buy his first airplane. The original safe is still in the back. It now serves as Minnesota’s most secure dressing room.
There is a lot to be said in favor of supporting a family business as old and unique as Bill’s Toggery. Yet at the end of the day, being the best-dressed man wherever you go – or standing next to the best-dressed man under the same circumstances – is the only reason you need to shop there.
Bill’s Toggery is located at 138 Lewis Street South in downtown Shakopee. They are open Monday through Saturday as well as by special appointment. You may learn more about the local men’s clothier at billstoggery.com.
