I received a reader request about Gornik's Men's Store. Here's a little bit about it, in case you're curious, too.
Gornik's was founded around 1904 by John Gornik, who came from Yugoslavia. The first Gornik's was located at 6217 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44103. The first mention I can find for John Gornik selling from this address is in 1923
This is 6217 St. Clair today:
In 1941, Gornik expanded to a store on East 185th street.
6 years later in 1947, the store at East 222nd and Lakeshore Blvd. was added. 1948 saw the merge of the East 185th Gornik's and the Lakeshore Blvd. Gornik's.
Gornik's celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1956 at their solitary location in Euclid, 22346 Lakeshore Blvd. The business had been run by John Gornik's three sons, Joseph E. Gornik, Ermin L. Gornik, and James V. Gornik, for at least a decade at this point, with John Gornik having died in the mid 1940's.
Wider aisles greeted Gornik's customers as they first walked in.
Gornik's Salesman Ed Toth showing off shoes in the recently quadrupled shoe department.
Large suit selection in the Gornik's men's department.
Additionally, the Gornik brothers were pleased to announce that Luciano Franzoni, "noted stylist of the International Design Guild", would be at the Euclid Gornik's store on Saturday, October 4, 1969.
Gornik's evidently had a very good run, closing a bit more than a week before Christmas, 1982. They ran a going out of business ad in the December 16, 1982 Plain Dealer.
And that's a short beginning, middle, and end of Gornik's in Euclid.
I did find a vintage top hat that sold on eBay for well over $100 recently.
Style to spare.
Gornik's today is Glam Salon and Boutique.
Gornik's was founded around 1904 by John Gornik, who came from Yugoslavia. The first Gornik's was located at 6217 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44103. The first mention I can find for John Gornik selling from this address is in 1923
This is 6217 St. Clair today:
In 1941, Gornik expanded to a store on East 185th street.
6 years later in 1947, the store at East 222nd and Lakeshore Blvd. was added. 1948 saw the merge of the East 185th Gornik's and the Lakeshore Blvd. Gornik's.
Gornik's celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1956 at their solitary location in Euclid, 22346 Lakeshore Blvd. The business had been run by John Gornik's three sons, Joseph E. Gornik, Ermin L. Gornik, and James V. Gornik, for at least a decade at this point, with John Gornik having died in the mid 1940's.
Gornik's Euclid store circa 1957
Gornik's Euclid store circa 1958
Gornik's "Store for Men and Boys and Four Seasons Shoppe for Ladies" expanded in 1963, and their address changed from 22346 Lakeshore to 22340 Lakeshore. Adding an impressive 3,100 square feet to the store, improvements and enlargements included men's, women's, shoes, dress suit rental, and alteration departments. Six employees were added, making the total working at Gornik's to 27 total.
The Gornik's ladies department was moved from the front of the store to the rear. Pictured shopping are Virginia Hughes and Betty Gromofsky.
By 1969 Gornik's was up to 60 employees with all three brothers still running the place. The brothers positions, a bit about their families, and home addresses were given as part of a large advertisement.
Secretary-treasurer of Gornik's is Joseph E. Gornik, 760 Stevens Blvd., Eastlake. He and his wife, Rose, are the parents of nine children. Gornik was graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1937 before he joined his family in the clothing business.
A brother, Ermin Gornik, father of five children, is president of this clothing outlet. He and his family live at 292 E. 214 St., Euclid.
Vice president is James V. Gornik, father of four children, who resides with his family at 131 E, 217 St., Euclid.
Additionally, the Gornik brothers were pleased to announce that Luciano Franzoni, "noted stylist of the International Design Guild", would be at the Euclid Gornik's store on Saturday, October 4, 1969.
Gornik's evidently had a very good run, closing a bit more than a week before Christmas, 1982. They ran a going out of business ad in the December 16, 1982 Plain Dealer.
And that's a short beginning, middle, and end of Gornik's in Euclid.
I did find a vintage top hat that sold on eBay for well over $100 recently.
Gornik's today is Glam Salon and Boutique.
Thank you very much for this information. I am the one who asked you for information of Gornik's Clothing. I have a great mens overcoat and wanted the history of it!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help you out, Pat! I bet it's a very nice overcoat, coming from Gornik's and all!
DeleteVery nice write up. My dad, Ermin, and Uncles Jim and Joe would have loved the free advertising. It took many hours and hard work to get the store to be all that it was to so many people. They were very forward thinking having the inventory computerized in the late 70s. In the mid 60s,they hired a black presser, Henry and then Helen a black tailor and faced some problems for hiring them. Both Henry and Helen were with them till they closed. They had a staff of 6-8 tailors, 6 office workers and the rest salespersons. They even offered medical to their employees in the early 60s. Perhaps some of my may cousins share, Louise Gornik aka one of the twins
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. There's only so much a person can "dig up" going through old papers and such, and comments like yours really speak to the people behind the history. Thanks again!
DeleteMy beloved maternal grandfather still ran Gornik's when I was a child. For many years thereafter into my young adulthood, anyone I met from the Cleveland area always knew about Gornik's clothing store. I met people all over the country, and once internationally, wearing Gornik's sports jackets. Grandpa passed in 2001. I know he would have loved to see this. My mom and I both enjoyed it, and I learned some things I didn't know. Thank you!~
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't see your comment before this, and thank you for sharing! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it and I love hearing these kinds of memories and stories, they add so much to the posts when folks come to read.
DeleteHi, I'm trying to locate Joe Gornick's youngest son, Robert Gornik (Bob).
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any information regarding his whereabouts? Any info would be extremely helpful.
Sorry for the delay. I just now discovered this blog. Regret to report that Bob lost his battle with cancer in 2019....
DeleteThey also had a shortlived location at Hilltop Plaza on Wilson Mills Road, opposite Richmond Mall. I think that was at the end of the 70s or early 80s, probably shortly before they closed in Euclid. That period seemed to be the beginning of the end for mens stores like Gornik's.
ReplyDeleteThanks, this was very interesting to me. I often shopped there with my father, who knew Joe Gornik. (I think that's him in the second photo as well.) I went to school with one of the younger Gorniks. Nice store.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Lakeshore store 1974-1975. Ermin, Joe and Jim worked the floor regularly along with Joe Jr. Great people, great merchandise. I remember selling many suits to former Cleveland mayor, Frank Lausche.
ReplyDeleteIn the mid/late 1970's there was a Gornik's Mens Store in Hilltop Plaza, on Wilson Mills, across from Richmond Mall. I assume this was a branch store?
ReplyDeleteYes, they opened that store in the mid 70’s. Unfortunately that was at the end of specialty stores, the malls were taking over, that plus neighborhoods were changing as well as men’s tastes in clothing. That location closed, and then the Lakeshore store closed shortly after.
DeleteMy father worked at East Ohio Gas. Gornik's ran a "suit club" for the men who had to dress in the business attire of the day that was similar to a "Christmas club." Participants would contribute weekly until they reached a set amount. The hook for the club was that once a month a name from the participant pool would get pulled for a suit for whatever amount that person had put in up to that date.
ReplyDelete