Sydney Prottas Rogers

End of the line nears for Rogers Clothing

March 19, 2003

By TODD BISHOP

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Sydney Rogers proudly displays in his Seattle clothing store a wooden hanger from the shop his grandfather opened in the city more than a century ago.

Come next month, Rogers plans to hang it up for good.

The third-generation Seattle clothier, 73, has decided to retire after 50 years in the family business. Rogers Clothing for Men, between Pine and Pike streets on Second Avenue, is expected to close in April.

Rogers' grandfather, Sol Rogers, started the business in the late 1800s as a tailor shop and clothing store after moving to Seattle from San Francisco. Sydney Rogers worked in the business with his father, Harold Rogers, for several years before taking over in 1959.

The business was known as Palace Clothing Co. and later as Seamens before taking on its current name. Over the years, it has occupied numerous downtown Seattle locations. Rogers moved the store to its current location about seven years ago, from the block on which Benaroya Hall was ultimately built.

Under Rogers' father, the business focused for a time on military surplus goods. The store now focuses on sturdy work and outdoor clothing, including rain gear, flannel shirts, boots, thermal underwear, heavy jackets and hats.

"There were a lot of stores like mine years ago, but there's not very many independent stores now," said Rogers, who still writes receipts by hand and looks up the sales tax on a printed table.

He is retiring at the encouragement of his family, although neither of his two sons is interested in taking the business into a fourth generation. Also figuring into his decision were the escalating cost of retail space and what he described as sluggish business downtown. Both have made it tough to turn a profit.

Rogers isn't sure exactly what he'll do after the store closes, but one of his first tasks is already clear: He'll be spending a couple of days, at least, sorting through the thousands of pieces of mail that have piled up over the years on the counter behind the register near the front of the store.

He explained that he simply doesn't like to deal with the mail -- preferring instead to spend his time at the store selling clothes.

Obituary

Sydney P. ROGERS Born April 17, 1929, passed away on October 14, 2009. Sydney was a member of one of the earliest Jewish families in Seattle. Sydney was active in Boy Scouts in his younger days, and served as Scoutmaster when he was not much older than his scouts. He served in the Army in California during the Korean War, where he posed a challenge to any officer desiring to impose the discipline required of soldiers. Sydney knew he could never work for a boss, so he owned and operated Rogers Clothing for Men in Downtown Seattle for over 40 years, where he would often be found conversing with customers and passersby from all walks of life. Sydney was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters. He is survived by sons Michael (Susan) and Mark (Tami), daughter Elizabeth, brother Robert, and grand-daughters Molly and Samantha Dubow. Funeral service will be held on Friday, October 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Bikur Cholim cemetery, 1340 N. 115th St., Seattle, WA 98113. Donations may be made to Northwest Kidney Centers Foundation, P.O. Box 3035, Seattle, WA 98114; or L'Arche Noah Sealth, P.O. Box 22023, Seattle, WA 98122-0233.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?page=li...