Daroff took David into his shipping room and told him anything there was his. David said, "I just told you that we couldn't pay you what we owe you."
Legend has it that Daroff's reply was: "I didn't ask you for any money."
Three days later, the new merchandise was being sold across the street on pipe racks, and the store was back in business for good.
Later that year, the Ehrenreichs hired local architect Louis Greenstein to create a brand-new building, which was built by local contractors using the most modern features of the day. The new Riverside Men's Shop boasted the city's first air-conditioning, first plate-glass doors, and first fluorescent lighting.
The Ehrenreich family never looked back -- only forward -- and the store has been a cornerstone of the Buffalo-Niagara retail community ever since. Neil Ehrenreich, Samuel's grandson, took over the reins from his father, David, in 1973 and led the store through 25 years of changes before retiring in 1998, leaving a solid foundation for his own family to build upon.
Riverside Men's Shop was founded on strong values like honesty, integrity and trust and has thrived on a continued commitment to quality and customer service.
Riverside Men's Shop was founded in 1918 by Samuel Ehrenreich and has been owned and operated by family members ever since. The current ownership team, Tim Hare and Betsy Ehrenreich Hare, has managed the business since 1998. The Hares have kept the store current and competitive by offering customers quality products at affordable prices and by employing some of the most experienced salespeople in the city.
Just 5 years later, in 1940, a fire destroyed the building and almost forced the family out of business. Samuel's son, David Ehrenreich, who co-owned the store with brother Raymond, traveled to Philadelphia to meet with Joe Daroff, the store's largest vendor. He told Daroff they would not be able to pay him for the goods they had received just prior to the fire.
