Hot Sam's has been in business since 1921. It's been rumored it's the oldest store of its kind in Michigan. That speaks to the power of a good suit. The men's retailer focuses on suits, dress shirts, shoes, and accessories as well as outfitting the city's most fashionable politicians, ministers, athletes, and celebrities.
When the store opened nearly a century ago, it had a different owner. Sam Freedman ran the men's boutique, offering quality clothing at prices so low that they earned a reputation for being "hot," slang for stolen.
Ninety-four years later, no one is questioning whether their goods are legitimate, and the store has a reputation for greatness. Hot Sam's is something of an institution in Detroit, in fact. Originally located on Brush Street, the shop relocated to a space inside the Compuware Building about a decade ago, but the business has never left the city. They proudly tout the slogan, "Never left. Never will."
These days Hot Sam's is a family affair of sorts. Tony Stovall and Cliff G. Green run the store; they bought it over 20 years ago after serving as top salespeople for three collective decades. Stovall's daughter Lauren serves as an in-store stylist.
Though high-end retailers seem to be popping up all over Downtown Detroit (1701 Bespoke, another suit shop, has a space in downtown, and John Varvatos' Woodward Avenue retail spot has been in business since April), Hot Sam's remains loyal to its customers with fair, low prices and added values that set them apart. Not many other stores offer a chauffer service to local clientele, after all.
