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A special message from the Selix family.
“The name, Selix, when equated with formal wear, has always represented something fine, reputable, and reliable. The best in customer service, quality, selection, and price have been paramount since its beginning in 1906. We thank the Bongiovanni family for honoring this tradition.” Here are some references to the history of Selix Formalwear.
From Newspaper Obits:
• Edward Selix: born March 5, 1882, Leadville, Colorado
• Moved to SF in 1900
According to a news article featuring Edward Selix on April 1, 1938…
• I.E. Selix opened store at 123 Kearny St., $35,000.
• Edward Selix’s father and grandfather sold men’s tailor-made suits in boom mining towns throughout the state during the Gold Rush days.
• First store was in 1906, after the fire, on Golden Gate Avenue
• In 1909, Selix moved to Eddy and Mason location, where he stayed for 25 years, enlarging the store four times.
• In 1934, Selix opened a store at 930 Market St.
A 1964 SF Chronicle article:
• “…that has made the name Selix synonymous with evening wear for men all over California.”
A 1974 Oakland Tribune Article:
• In 1974, there were 11 Bay Area stores, 600 Selix “dealerships” (presumably wholesale accounts)
• There were divisions of the company: Selix Formal Wear, Selco, and Selbro. Selix stores bought their stock from Selco. Selbro warehoused the stock for the stores and for three Eastern manufacturers of formal wear. “It’s a unique business,” said the article. “Its only lookalike is the famed Moss Bros. of England, and the Moss family likes sending its young men to California to work in a Selix store for a while.”
• Selix stocked sizes 2 to 60, and most stores carried a nice array of sizes in nearly every style.
1974 SF Examiner column:
• Selix employees collected the money left in men’s rented trouser and coat pockets and donated it to United Way. $500 in coins for a two year period. Folded money was mailed back to the renter.
1980 SF Examiner column:
• “The name Selix and formal wear are synonymous.”