A Little About CHELSEA

CHELSEA was founded in 1943 by Benjamin Rose, and has served the men of the southern Detroit metropolitan area continuously ever since. The original store no longer exists, the building torn down shortly after the move from 1st Street to Biddle Avenue in 1962, where we have operated ever since. At one time (pre-mall, pre-shopping center days), there were four men’s stores in Wyandotte, in the very same block.

Benjamin’s son Gilbert joined the family business in 1962 as the baby boom generation began to emerge as a buying force, and the company flourished with additional men’s and women’s stores throughout the Detroit Metropolitan area (a total of 23 stores at our peak). Our original sister store, Willow Tree was the first expansion and it continues on today as Wyandotte’s premier clothing store for women.

CHELSEA was remodeled in 1970, and the carefully considered design-work has served us well, standing the test of time. The unique store-front is widely considered today as being ahead of it’s time. It is absolutely iconic in Wyandotte, impossible to miss. Inside, CHELSEA has none of the tired atmosphere that dogs many older stores. Unique, modern displays of our great clothes makes for an interesting and ever-changing experience.

As independent retail of all sorts contracted over the last few decades, all 3 of our competitors went out of business, the last one closing in 1995. There are virtually none in the Southeastern Detroit region, making CHELSEA rare and special.

Today, the Rose family business is still owned and operated by the Rose family! Gilbert, wife Arlene, son Peter and Peter’s wife Janelle work together to operate CHELSEA and Willow Tree (along with our great staff - - - couldn’t even START without our staff!!), a block apart in beautiful downtown Wyandotte (see tab).

CHELSEA has always featured a finely tuned assortment of menswear, ranging from superb suits and sport coats to shoes and jeans, and always with a keen eye on the best brand names available. In business for more than six decades (seven in 2013!), CHELSEA Menswear and Tuxedos has earned the reputation of being the very best menswear store in the southern Detroit Metro area - - - Our Downriver home!