From left, Alex Hathaway, Erin Tiner, Shawna O’Brien and Jordan Hathaway show off the fashions of downtown mainstay. Photo by Kevin Harkins.
Just beyond the more well-known shops lining the center of town, The Andover Shop sits just far enough ahead of the others on Main Street to symbolize its leading excellence in the merchandise it sells. While the traditional, conservative exterior of the store serves as a reliable comfort to its loyal clientele, it shouldn’t deter a less conventional crowd from stepping inside to discover the many extraordinary treasures arranged with care along its shelves.
The priority of The Andover Shop, a family-owned business since 1948, has been to provide a steady and dependable source for the highest quality clothing in a world of ever-changing fashion and unpredictable expectations in the protean margins of style. But very subtly, and unwittingly, perhaps, this store has kept hidden some of the rarer gems that even the most ultramodern of shoppers would find irresistible.
For men, it’s the ability to have fine clothes custom-made in the intimate atmosphere of a shop with a personable and knowledgeable staff; the choice of classic or whimsical patterns on an endless display of ties; the sturdy, masculine elegance of jackets which suit a variety of needs; the distinguished dress shoes; the sublime comfort of boxer shorts and socks; the potential to create the ultimate tuxedo for that special occasion.
For women, it’s the beautiful array of delicate fabrics and colors on superior-quality clothing and accessories like cashmere sweaters, fitted wool skirts, exclusive scarves, gloves, beautiful ribbon belts, and jackets ranging from trendy quilts to the softest and classiest of leathers. Even the blankets and throws draped casually over the staircase down to their on-site tailor are impossible to ignore.
Although the prices on the clothing certainly reflect their exceptional quality, a shopper in the market for one of these pieces would be hard pressed to find it for less anywhere else. To shop for high-end merchandise bearing the prominent brands and private labels they carry in the convenience of a local shop with a strong customer-focused philosophy is a blessing; the steady success of their downtown store as well as their second location in Cambridge attests to this. Most notable, though, is the surprising likeness between The Andover Shop’s modest size and its equally unassuming decorum.
The Andover Shop’s patronage appears to weave seamlessly throughout generations of families much like the fibers of its fabrics; the sheer fact that the store simultaneously caters to customers with the most youthful of tastes as well as to a more mature, sophisticated crowd is both impressive and unique.
So don’t let the timeless etiquette of a store steeped in tradition and dedicated to the “unwavering pursuit of quality and value” discourage you from seeing the true novelty and unrivaled charm its consistency brings. In today’s fashion industry, where a high price tag rarely buys you comparable quality and service, that concern for custom is at the very least reassuring; in the long run, all’s well that mends well.
The Andover Shop is located at 127 Main Street – TheAndoverShop.com
Clothes Quarters – The Andover Shop
From left, Alex Hathaway, Erin Tiner, Shawna O’Brien and Jordan Hathaway show off the fashions of downtown mainstay. Photo by Kevin Harkins.
Just beyond the more well-known shops lining the center of town, The Andover Shop sits just far enough ahead of the others on Main Street to symbolize its leading excellence in the merchandise it sells. While the traditional, conservative exterior of the store serves as a reliable comfort to its loyal clientele, it shouldn’t deter a less conventional crowd from stepping inside to discover the many extraordinary treasures arranged with care along its shelves.
The priority of The Andover Shop, a family-owned business since 1948, has been to provide a steady and dependable source for the highest quality clothing in a world of ever-changing fashion and unpredictable expectations in the protean margins of style. But very subtly, and unwittingly, perhaps, this store has kept hidden some of the rarer gems that even the most ultramodern of shoppers would find irresistible.
For men, it’s the ability to have fine clothes custom-made in the intimate atmosphere of a shop with a personable and knowledgeable staff; the choice of classic or whimsical patterns on an endless display of ties; the sturdy, masculine elegance of jackets which suit a variety of needs; the distinguished dress shoes; the sublime comfort of boxer shorts and socks; the potential to create the ultimate tuxedo for that special occasion.
For women, it’s the beautiful array of delicate fabrics and colors on superior-quality clothing and accessories like cashmere sweaters, fitted wool skirts, exclusive scarves, gloves, beautiful ribbon belts, and jackets ranging from trendy quilts to the softest and classiest of leathers. Even the blankets and throws draped casually over the staircase down to their on-site tailor are impossible to ignore.
Although the prices on the clothing certainly reflect their exceptional quality, a shopper in the market for one of these pieces would be hard pressed to find it for less anywhere else. To shop for high-end merchandise bearing the prominent brands and private labels they carry in the convenience of a local shop with a strong customer-focused philosophy is a blessing; the steady success of their downtown store as well as their second location in Cambridge attests to this. Most notable, though, is the surprising likeness between The Andover Shop’s modest size and its equally unassuming decorum.
The Andover Shop’s patronage appears to weave seamlessly throughout generations of families much like the fibers of its fabrics; the sheer fact that the store simultaneously caters to customers with the most youthful of tastes as well as to a more mature, sophisticated crowd is both impressive and unique.
So don’t let the timeless etiquette of a store steeped in tradition and dedicated to the “unwavering pursuit of quality and value” discourage you from seeing the true novelty and unrivaled charm its consistency brings. In today’s fashion industry, where a high price tag rarely buys you comparable quality and service, that concern for custom is at the very least reassuring; in the long run, all’s well that mends well.
The Andover Shop is located at 127 Main Street – TheAndoverShop.com