The Last Men’s Shop

Going back in Time at O'Connell's in Buffalo

I wasn’t prepared for what I found at O’Connell’s in Buffalo. This is the story of one of the most remarkable store visits I have ever made.

Despite having known about this place since at least 2005 (when I worked for J. Press), I was utterly unprepared at what I found when I made my first visit recently. The store is a perfect time capsule of menswear’s past. So much so that it almost feels like a movie set. Also unexpected: the stock levels. This place is filled to the absolute gills with Aldens, corduroy trousers, socks, scarves, OCBDs and everything else you might want. If you go digging you will find deadstock everything. If you talk them into letting you into the deep storage who knows what you might find. If the world stopped making trad menswear tomorrow, O'Connell’s would be able to keep us up and running for at least 50 years without disruption.

O'Connell’s owner John Huber working with a customer during my visit.