After 60 years, iconic men's clothing store to close in South Philadelphia

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Subtle Abe Mandel is not.

"I wouldn't suggest the wide legged. I would suggest these for you because they fit you better. Let's take a look," said Mandel.

But subtlety doesn't equal sales, and Mandel has been selling men's clothes at the iconic South Philadelphia store, A Man's Image, for more than six decades.

"You get one on one," said Anthony Crinity, customer. "You're not going to find that elsewhere."

Aside from the great customer service, another reason people love this store? The variety. There is something for everyone, whether you're a little more adventurous and you want something more colorful or would just opt for a plain black suit.

"I've trained my employees, once and a while, even to argue with my customers if they see something that doesn't really enhance their looks," said Mandel. "If it doesn't fit them right, they'll be the first one to tell them."

Action News spoke to customers who were told their go-to store would be gone in May after a blowout sale starting Thursday.

"This is the place I come to when I get most of my formal wear," said Timothy James, customer. "And now I'm trying to pass the legacy on to him, but now they're going to close."

At 75, Dr. Abe, as he's fondly referred to, says his retirement is overdue, and the care in which many men used to take in the way they dress is well, over.

"Only the old-timers like myself still care," said Mandel. "It's an ego thing."

With Dr. Abe's generation, it's also a family thing. Some employees have worked with him for three decades. So Dr. Abe is shopping for a smaller space.

"Who's going to pay them to make a living?" asked Mandel. "I'm just giving them back the service, all the years they've given me."

To all his customers Abe says, "After 60 years, come on down."