BOBBIE BROOKS, INC. - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

BOBBIE BROOKS, INC., a leader in the production of women's apparel,
was established by MAURICE SALTZMAN† and Max Reiter as
Ritmore Sportswear, Inc. in a loft in the Bradley Bldg. on W. 6th St. in 1939.
Beginning with a $3,000 investment, they built the company into a multi-million
dollar operation within the next 15 years. In 1953 Saltzman bought out Reiter's
share in the company for $1 million and the firm became Bobbie Brooks, Inc. With
offices at 3830 Kelley Ave. and a plant at 2230 Superior Ave., Bobbie Brooks
produced and sold stylish clothes for teenage and junior-miss girls,
coordinating the styling, colors, and fabrics. Eventually, the company expanded
its line to include apparel for women 25-44, and added production divisions in
other cities during the 1960s.

However, Bobbie Brooks encountered serious financial difficulties in
the
early 1980s and filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 in Jan. 1982 in
order to
reorganize. After the company emerged from bankruptcy, Pubco Corp., a
holding
company with printing and real estate operations, became a major
shareholder in
Bobbie Brooks; Pubco's Robert Kanner took over as president in 1985.
Though most
of the company's production was now carried on in the South, its
headquarters
remained on Kelley Ave. in Cleveland. In 1986, Bobbie Brooks announced
that it would stop making its junior and misses lines, in order to focus
on clothing for women. The following year, the company earned $4.3
million
on sales of $127.7 million, and founder Maurice Saltzman resigned as
company
chairman. By 1988 Pubco and Bobbie Brooks were interlocking companies,
and in 1992 Pubco acquired majority control of the firm. After
acquiring Buckeye Business Products in 1994, Bobbie Brooks continued to
diversify. By 2003, the company had interests in retail and commercial
printing, and continued to supply women's apparel to department,
specialty, and national chain stores.

Jonathan Logan dresses were the first clothing that I purchased with my first paychecks. I remember the first one, can describe every detail. Pretty lasting impression for 60years. Really liked everything they made. Had a store a block from office where I worked. Probably had a lot of layaway purchases.

Oh yes. Jonathan Logan along with Capezio - college years

I remember Jonathan Logan and also Villager and Ladybug clothing. I think Villager is still around but not the classy clothes they once were. I wore Ladybug and John North of Norwich(?). I dressed my little girl in Polly Flinders which were adorable and hand smocked. Don't see them any more but little girls don't dress that way any more. More's the pity.

I remember Villager clothing when I was in high school. And the girls loved Capezio shoes because they were the lowest, flatest shoes (especially for us tall girls) but also because they came in such a variety of beautiful colors. I remember some girls wore them so much that they developed ugly bumps at the back of their heels. There was one crowd of girls who had entire outfits that were dyed to match--sweater, skirt, and either Capezio or socks and shoes.

I love this thread. Yes I so remember the brands mentioned here. Does anyone remember there was one particular model that Bobbie Brooks used? I can picture her face really clearly but I have no idea what her name was I guess this was before the supermodel era.

Another brand that I remember of that era was Petti. ( think the tags were green background with white polkadots.

I had a beautiful, to me, navy suit, that I was so proud of. Was a Jonathan Logan. Had a white leather collar. And had a small white leather cap that I wore to a footballgame. Back then you dressed up for college football games.

Went to the frat house, with the guy, I was "pinned" to, took off my lovely leather cap, went downstairs to the party room.

Someone liked my white leather cap and took it.

A memory that stuck with me.

I remember Bobbi Brooks,Ladybug and Villager. Their clothing was so classic and flattering. I always felt good wearing their clothing.

Small change of subject....but....watch Princess Charlotte; I'll bet she will be wearing smocked dresses any day now and I love the smocked clothes Prince George wears. I still have a couple of smocked tops that my babies wore....now on old baby dolls.

I saved every one of the Polly Flinders smocked dresses with matching pants. They're stacked in a old blanket chest and will no doubt be thrown out someday. The little Prince and Princess look so sweet in their outfits. I can't believe it now but I actually dressed my daughter in these till fourth or fifth grade. She had long pigtails with ribbons to match. When my granddaughter was a baby ,I wore some on her a few times, but her own baby girl is dressed way differently.

I just decided to google images for BB ads and I think this is the model. Her name is Colleen Corby (which I think NOW does sound familar). She was in all the ads that I can picture from them. Anyone recognize this? I am not finding pix of her in a BB ad, but the face is definitely what I am picturing.I think this is the model

I remember Colleen Corby. She was a very popular model for Seventeen Magazine and was often featured on their covers. As a teen I liked that they had a dark haired model instead the requisite blue eyed blond.