The year was 1931. The Empire State Building reached a world record height. “The Star-Spangled Banner” became America’s national anthem. And in Shakopee, Bill Wermerskirchen defied the Great Depression to launch a men’s apparel emporium, Bill’s Toggery, that’s still thriving 95 years later.
“My grandfather went into business with just a few hundred dollars,” says Billy Wermerskirchen, third-generation owner of Bill’s Toggery. Billy, who succeeded his father Bill Jr. in 2015, recalls that the store “started out as a dry-cleaning shop, but soon began selling clothing.”
Founder Bill Wermerskirchen chose a prime location: the prominent corner that anchors the store to this day. The building had housed People’s Bank, where Charles Lindbergh – whose father was a bank director – secured the loan to buy his first airplane. Bank vaults being hard to move, this one now serves as what’s been called “the state’s safest dressing room.” From the old bank building, Bill’s Toggery has expanded along the block.
Back in the 1930s – and for decades after – suits and ties were the daily uniform of men in nearly all walks of life. The culture has changed, but demand hasn’t. It’s simply shifted from everyday wear to special occasions. “We’re now an event-based business,” says Billy, “and our suit sales have never been as good as they are today.” A big part of the clientele are wedding parties, who increasingly have been getting away from traditional rentals and opting instead to purchase suits – often from the Toggery’s custom shop. “There’s a full-time tailor on our staff,” Billy points out, “just as there’s been since our early days, and we offer an extensive selection of fabrics.” Fitting all shapes, sizes, and style preferences is, of course, what custom tailoring is all about, and clients have a wide range of options. Just remember – six weeks is a recommended span from fitting to pickup.
For men who choose to buy off the rack, Bill’s Toggery is home to a variety of respected brands. One line in particular has been a shop staple for more than half its history. “We’ve been carrying Hart Schaffner Marx since the 1970s,” Billy notes. Jack Victor and Giles & Jasper are among other fine lines of suits, blazers, and sport jackets in stock.
Acknowledging the more relaxed modern attitude towards work apparel, Billy believes that “buying for an event and buying for business are two different things. But although the work environment has changed, people still want to look good, along with being comfortable.”
What’s looking good – and comfortable – for fall 2026? Billy is following “a resurgence in knits – polos, knitwear worn under sport coats – lots of texture. We’ll be seeing shirt jackets and vests, great items for work now that people are being called back into the office. These are hybrid items that can be worn indoors and out. They’re still dressy, but comfortable.”
Another popular trend is the casual sport coat – “stretchy, meant to be worn without a tie.” Also look for five-pocket dress pants modeled after jeans, with no crease, and a narrower profile. Five-pocket style leader 34 Heritage, with denim and chino lines, is well represented at the shop.
Other popular sportswear, dress, and dress casual brands at Bill’s Toggery include Johnnie-O (“we’re a signature store for them,” says Billy); Bugatchi, known for its shirts in eight-way mercerized cotton; 7Diamonds; Ballin pants; dress shirts by David Donahue; and the Swedish-inspired line created by Holebrook, favored for the windproof linings on their shirt jackets, sweaters, and vests, especially welcome as the days turn cooler. And Tommy Bahama – don’t just think summer; they have a fall line, too – has been a shop staple since 1993.
Bill’s Toggery also has a long history of helping the well-dressed man put his best foot forward – literally. The shop’s footwear department is the place to go for dress and casual footwear, from brands such as Johnston & Murphy, Florsheim, Travis Mathew, and Martin Dingman. Hawaii-based OluKai is well represented, with a handsome and finely constructed line of shoes, sandals, and slippers. Like Martin Dingman, OluKai offers a selection of white-soled dress sneakers, which have become an increasingly popular option for wearing with suits as well as casual outfits.
Plans for a 95th birthday celebration are still in the development stage, but Billy envisions a Friday and Saturday early fall event with giveaways geared towards “giving back to our customers.” Keep an eye on the Bill’s Toggery website, BillsToggery.com, for details.
Meanwhile, there’s just five years left to think about what to wear for the Bill’s Toggery centennial!