I went to a Dawhare's recently and the prices were not that great still...

Working there for almost 10 years some people have hit on the problem.

 

1 - Dawahares was known for quality clothing, now its cheap knock-off Abercrombie and AE stuff. Someone said they focused on preppie look. They did that and lasted 100 years and sold Polo, Guess, Nautica, Lucky, and high quality name brand stuff. Only when they cheapened their merchandise did they start having problems.

 

2 - Expanding at the wrong time and into the wrong markets. When and where they were the only game in town in mens and womens name brand(expensive) clothing they not only survived but they THRIVED. Places like Belfry/South Williamson, Paintsville, Somerset, Morehead, there is 0 high end shopping for men and little for women. They also thrived with UK/college apparel in Lexington, Louisville, and Northern Ky.

 

Expanding to Louisville, Huntington, and places where Macy's and other big stores was/is not smart.

 

3. Family built it, family destroyed it.

 

Some family members got greedy, and some thought they were smarter/better buyers than they actually were. I'm not saying all did, actually most of them are great business people, but a select few did some not so smart things. They should have focused on spending money on employees and things that helped control merchandise/theft and buying good merchandise.

 

 

 

 

There is hope that a family member will come in and buy the name and continue to operate the East Ky. stores, the Cat-Bird Seats, and 5-6 other profitable stores in the chain.

 

If they don't there is going to be more fallout. Some shopping centers that Dawahares is in they generate 60% of the traffic to the area. South Side Mall in the Belfry area might close.

It is sad to see...Here in Morehead I used to go to Dawahare's to buy some UK shirts and stuff, occasionally other clothes as well, but mostly UK.

Who will dress the UK ballgame announcers now?

I wonder how this will affect the KHSAA Hall of FAme.

I always loved these stores until it wasnt my parents money anymore.

In eastern KY, Dawahares is the only place for a businessman to go to buy suits and other high quality workwear. A sad day to see these stores closing...