Tom Karle & Son Traditional Clothiers

How It Started:

Tom Karle started in the men’s clothing business over sixty years ago by brushing suits at a downtown Erie Men’s store. From that humble beginning, he has been a fixture in the area’s menswear business. He opened his first store in Erie in the 1950s, and in the 1960s, he moved to the landmark P.A. Meyers store on State Street as general manager where he eventually became the owner.

As the business climate changed, he opened Tom Karle and Son Traditional Clothiers on West 38th Street with his son and partner Tommy in 1981. At this time they were joined in the business by his daughter Christine and master tailor Arturo Zanco from Milan, Italy. The business concentrated on selling high quality menswear and offering the highest levels of personal service.

With son Tommy’s untimely death in 2009, Tom decided to move the store to its present location in the Colony Plaza and Tom’s nephew Tim Means was brought in as general manager.

Throughout his career Tom Karle has always stressed that quality and fit delivered with great service is the key for a man to look his best.