Broughton Street retail pioneer Joe Davit has opened a new upscale menswear store in the former Heyman & Sons location.
The Men’s Store by Joseph opened Dec. 3. Davit held a grand opening ribbon cutting Friday, a ceremony attended by city officials and several loyal customers.
“For years, whenever you saw a well-dressed pastor or well-dressed public official in this town, you were guaranteed that they visited one of Joe Davit’s businesses,” alderman Van Johnson said during the ceremony.
Davit has been a Broughton mainstay since opening On Time Fashion at 26 W. Broughton St. in 1990, prior to the street’s renaissance as a retail corridor. He took over Heyman & Sons, located at 28 W. Broughton, two years later.
Davit closed Heyman & Sons last summer and planned to lease or sell the space. He later decided to convert the storefront into the upscale store. The Men’s Store by Joseph will feature merchandise from Sean John, Donna Karan, Joseph Abboud, Florsheim, Steven Madden and Bass.
He will continue to operate On Time Fashion next door.
The foot traffic generated by Savannah’s tourism industry and the growth of locals shopping downtown led Davit to open the new business. Affordability sets his store apart from other menswear stores downtown, Davit said.
“We’re not trying to compete with anybody in particular,” Davit said. “Our merchandise is different than the others. I’m just trying to do something for myself and the community.”