Menswear store suits the present and past

Lee Baron Fashions store, in a strip mall at 4411 W. Fuqua, does more than specialize in men’s suits. It’s also a full-service outfitter for many a man’s shopping for “Sunday best” clothing in the 5 Corners Improvement District.

“We’ve been here for 40 years, just a small mom & pop store with a personal touch,” said store manager Mike Baron. “We try to help everyone with exactly what they need. It’s customer service.”

Baron said he is not related to Lee Baron, whose role in the history of the store is unclear.

The walls in the long, narrow store show off men’s suits ranging from gleaming white church vestments to electric blue tuxedos and most everything in-between.

In front of the store, a fully suited-up mannequin welcomes customers amid signs that promise the best price and best selection on rented tuxedos.

Just inside are glass counters on either side, displaying suspenders, ties and bowties along with all kinds of other accoutrements that go with custom-made suits, such as cufflinks and tie pins.

The middle of the store is crammed with racks of regular suits in every style and fit. On top of the racks are dozens of hats stacked topsy-turvy, just daring the customer to try one on. On the floor along the wall, there are shoe boxes stacked waist-high and shoe displays showing off everything from the latest athletic must-have footwear to blue snakeskin loafers and other upscale types of exotic shoes.

One of the dressing room doors sports a poster of popular television host Steve Harvey, reminding customers that his clothing line is on sale at the shop as well. In fact, it’s the kind of laidback, old-school kind of store where a stylish celebrity like Harvey would browse the porkpie hats and mull the purchase of black and green jacquard suit jacket embroidered with images of lush succulents growing from green and gold luxury wall planters.

Baron said the browser’s heaven draws a lot of walk-in traffic.

“We get our customers through word of mouth,” Baron said. “Everybody from the neighborhood comes in.”

The back of the store is dedicated to racks of men’s shoes, especially strutting loafers in a rainbow of colors and patterns.

The front also has a wall of framed publicity photos from the many African-American men’s bands and choirs over the past 40 years, showing off their finest threads and thanking the staff at the store.

If you want to see it, though, you’ll have to go check it out in person. The manager said no photos are allowed of the wall of fame because he did not know if the bands peacocking for the camera would approve of their images going public.

There are two Lee Baron stores — one in Houston and one in Huntsville — and they can be found online at https://leebarononline.com/