What were you doing 18 years ago?
We were moving! Ken Whitenight was an administrative manager in a chemical manufacturing company in Princeton, New Jersey...Al Hack was with an insurance company in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Both Al and Ken had decided to chuck their jobs and open a traditional store for men. At that time they discovered KU and were much impressed with its great potential growth and they made their move toward the Midwest.
They knew each other from their younger days together in school and before and they determined to pool their efforts and talents. Both men were tremendously excited by the then emerging natural shoulder clothing and "button-down" look. Both had gone to school in the east, Ken at Penn, Al at Penn State, and they had long been aware of the attitude of traditional good taste toward attire that pervaded the east coast. They brought their taste and new ideas to KU and began to express their ideas at the University Shop, our first shop, which opened 18 years ago in 1950.
The U. Shop with its traditional approach was an instant success and they soon expanded by opening the Town Shop, downtown. Al managed the shop on the hill and Ken the new shop on Massachusetts Street. They still maintain this arrangement.
It was only logical that the traditional ideas of simplicity, good taste and fine tailoring that were demanded in the men's shops should also be a much
desired commodity for the women as well. It was in this spirit that the Country House was added to provide that same expression of good taste for the young women of KU. The Country House is located at the back of the Town Shop and is three years old this fall.
Ken and Al started more than 18 years ago diligently searching for and finding the best of the traditional clothing lines both in the U.S. and abroad to provide not only the right look but the best buy for their many customers. Over the years the process of acquiring stock for the three shops has been one of both discovery and invention. The seasonal search has invariably resulted in new ideas and new directions and in showing the men and women of KU the right fashion first.
We are all still conducting this search and we're coming forth this fall with the most exciting collection of color, pattern and traditional fashion that we've ever had in the shops.
Won't you take a look through the next three pages and get acquainted with the shops, the clothing, and most importantly, the people who make the whole thing tick? Better still, stop in all three of the shops and let us get to know you personally. We're looking forward to it.
Ken Whitenight
Al Hack
Pete Whitenight
THE Town Shop 839 Mass. Uptown VI 3-5755
THE University Shop
1420 Crescent Dr.
On the Hill
VI 3-4633
at the back of the Town Shop
839 Mass. St.
Uptown
V1 3-5755
Clothing in traditionally good taste . . . for men and women.