Jensen Clothing quitting business

Doors closed until

Thursday morning

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Jensen Clothing, one of the last stores specializing only in men's clothing in this part of the state, will soon close.

For owner Jim Jensen, the clothing business has been his livelihood for four decades. Next week, the beginning of the end starts at 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, at Jensen Clothing in the Marktplatz in New Ulm.

The sale will last until several hundred thousand dollars worth of designer men's wear is gone.

Jensen credited his community activism as a factor in gaining experience that helped him get to know people, expand his business experience and learn how others excelled.

Closing the store is voluntary, he emphasized.

"This is what we want to do. Nobody is forcing us to leave," Jensen said.

One thing for sure, he won't be idle.

"You won't find us sitting on the couch eating Cheetos and watching soap operas," Jensen added. "On the other hand, I won't be working at Dairy Queen because I don't want to get any bigger."

Jensen said he's excited about the thought of trying something new in the business world, although he isn't sure just what he and his family will do yet.

Jensen learned the clothing business from the ground up. A Morgan native, he began his retail clothing career in 1963 at Kingery's Department Store in Springfield.

He and his wife Konnie moved to New Ulm in 1966, and Jim started working for Hugo Neubauer at the Leuthold-Neubauer store, which later became Leuthold-Jensen. The Jensens purchased Neubauer's interest in 1970 and renamed the store Leuthold-Jensen Clothing.

The Leuthold company disbanded in 1994, and the Jensens purchased their interest, becoming Jensen Clothing, Inc. Shortly thereafter, the business moved from its original location at 14 N. Minnesota St. to Marktplatz Mall in downtown New Ulm.

Jim compared retailing with milking cows, which he was familiar with, growing up on a farm. Lots of family help was needed to make the operation work.

The entire family worked part-time or full-time at the store -- Jim and Konnie's daughters Amy Domeier and Sarah Weidman and their sons Eric and Chris.

The store won many retail awards including the Midwest Men's Wear Retailer of the Year and the Two Million Dollar Purchase Club from the Northwest Buyers and Jobbers Association, a nationally-known buying group.

The store featured service after the sale with its own tailor. Lines included the latest styles of Gingiss Tuxedos, suits and sport coats, dress shirts, sportswear and Hauenstein shirts and gifts.

"We tried to appeal to a broad range of tastes," Jensen said earlier this year. "We tried to make up for the smaller market with customer service and quality. People drove a long way for a good store. We had regular customers from as far away as Worthington."

Years ago, the business sponsored fashion shows at the Cat'n Fiddle Supper Club southeast of New Ulm on Highway 68. Shows included a full meal, dance band and modeling by Minnesota Vikings and Twins players including Jim Kaat, Fred Cox, Doug Kingsriter, Fred McNeil and "Benchwarmer" Bob Lurtsema.

"It's demanding but challenging and exciting," Jensen said about retailing. "The best parts of retailing are the people I've met and become close with -- our customers and employees in and around New Ulm have been great. The retail landscape is changing so we must also."

Jensen was instrumental in the Big Brother and Fellowship of Christian Athletes programs in New Ulm. He served as president of the New Ulm Area Chamber & Retail Association and was on the boards of Brown County Fair, New Ulm Telecom and Alliance Bank.