Downtown Minneapolis Retailer Hubert White to Close
High-end men’s retailer Hubert White has been doing business in downtown Minneapolis for decades, but its days are soon coming to an end.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Hubert White owner and CEO Bob White announced that he will retire and close the store on Aug. 1.
“As I reflect back on the past 50 years I have been a part of the Hubert White team, I am humbled and proud of the traditions, the excellence, and service that Hubert White has demonstrated since its inception by my grandfather in 1916,” the owner wrote. “However, the time has come to make this difficult decision to close the doors.”
Until now, Hubert White has withstood the test of time, outlasting countless other downtown retailers that floundered due to declining foot traffic, the rise of e-commerce, and eventually Covid-19. But Hubert White catered to a more regular, upscale clientele, which meant the store never really had to rely on foot traffic for business.
When reached by phone, White noted that business had dropped significantly in the wake of the pandemic and riots after George Floyd’s murder. He said things had been getting “incrementally better, for sure, but not enough to change the whole equation.”
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White said he did consider a sale of the business, but ultimately decided it wasn’t going to work. There wasn’t another family member working in the business to take it over, either.
As for timing of the closure, White said it had to happen “either now or six months from now,” due to the cycle of the business.
Hubert White leases its space in the IDS Center downtown.
“We’re sad this is happening,” White said. “We’ve been at it a long time. We love what we do, and we love the city, but unfortunately, it’s time.”
The business started off as a haberdashery shop in St. Paul back in 1916. The White family opened a Minneapolis location 20 years later.
