Menswear and the Colveys--a Perfect Fit

When June and Rae Colvey moved to Pacific Palisades and opened their men’s clothing store just after World War II, the community was way out in the sticks. Ranchers raised Black Angus cattle on the hillsides.

Of the original shops in the Palisades business district, only Colvey’s and a hardware store remain. Colvey’s has been at the same address, 15306 Antioch St., since 1946.

A few things have changed. The store has expanded considerably over the years. And the prices have gone up a bit. In 1946, ties started at around $2.50, and $75 would buy a good suit.

The Colveys started with a $2,500 loan from a friend and used all their own resources. June Colvey says it was “nothing spectacular--we were just doing a job, treating people well and pricing everything fair.”

Most of the customers came on foot. Everyone knew everyone else and just about everyone was starting out like the Colveys. June Colvey remembers the day actor James Arness came in with his brother, actor Peter Graves, and they couldn’t outfit Arness because he was too large. Graves still shops at Colvey’s, as do many third-generation customers whose names June remembers when she sees them on credit cards.

“We opened this store, not with the idea of making money--we wanted to make a living,” she said. “America was built like this, growing with the community, doing a service and working, working, working.”

Colvey’s still stocks the traditional blue blazers, gray slacks and cashmere sweaters, but one of the secrets of staying in business is keeping up with the times. That means stocking designer labels and boxer shorts decorated with Dalmatians. Another secret, Rae Colvey says, is to “do unto others and hire good sales help who have the right attitude, which is service, service, service.”

Rae Colvey, 83, has needed a wheelchair to get around for the past several years, but he still comes to work, greets customers and does some of the buying. He says he would do it all over again--”wouldn’t change anything.”

But he added, “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for (June’s) know-how. She’s a good businesswoman.”

The Colveys are looking forward to celebrating their 50th year in business in 1996. It has been a good life. They raised and educated two daughters from the store and made lasting friends. She says the 50-year mark is a goal of theirs. “I don’t know who’s going to carry on after that. I really don’t know if we will sell or close up. We won’t sell the name unless we’re sure of the kind of business people buying it. We’ve worked too hard to build it up to give it away,” she said.

The Colveys make decisions together and usually agree on the important issues except one--advising people on going into business. June says do it if you have guts, an outgoing personality and enjoy the work. The most important things, she says, are adequate capital and patience.

Rae is more cautious: “Don’t do it now,” he says. “Every recession we enlarged except the last one. It’s more of a depression now.”

June and Rae Colvey have outlasted their competitors because they were in it, in Rae’s words, “for the long pull.” They still laugh and dream together.