LE MARS, Iowa — The building at the corner of Central Avenue and Plymouth Street in downtown Le Mars will continue on as a clothing store after all.
Claussen’s, which has occupied the store for 33 years, announced this fall that it would close permanently as the proprietors, Terry Claussen and wife Lori, retire. At the time of the announcement, Terry Claussen said it wasn’t yet clear what would become of the building, which he says has been used as a clothing store for more than a century.
Chad and Jill Mescher of Le Mars plan to open their store, called Mescher’s, after the first of the year. Claussen’s liquidation sale will continue until the merchandise is gone, Chad Mescher told The Journal, and he will stock the store with fresh merchandise.
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The store, he said, will be largely the same as Claussen’s, though some interior updates are planned.
“It will be very, very similar, we’re still going to carry all the men’s fashion pieces, suits — the big push will be the tux rentals, since, you know, obviously Tip Top Tux closed recently,” Chad Mescher said.
Terry and Lori Claussen will continue to own the building, and Mescher’s will lease it from them, Chad Mescher said.
Mescher’s store will specialize in menswear; Jill Mescher and her mother, Cary Penning, operate several boutique stores in downtown Le Mars, including the Sugar-N-Spice Children’s Boutique, Lily Zita Teen Boutique and the Shop Cary Boutique.
“My wife and mother-in-law have the women’s (clothing), I’m going to let them handle that, and I’ll just stick with the men’s clothing,” Chad Mescher said.
