Fishman's Menswear

Fishman's Men's Wear, 1960. From the collection of the Sault Ste. Marie Museum.

Fishman's Men's Wear was a clothing outfitter for men and boys, owned and operated by Alec, Jacob (Jack) and Albert Fishman. Opened during the Second World War and maintaining a presence on Gore Street for over three decades, Fishman's was one of many successful locally owned  retail businesses in Sault Ste. Marie.

Alec, Jacob and Albert Fishman were born in Poland, the sons of rabbi Beryl Fishman and his wife Rebecca. As per the Seventh Census of Canada 1931, Beryl immigrated to Canada in 1926, followed by his wife and children in 1928. They first settled around Kenora, Ontario before coming to Sault Ste. Marie in 1929. Upon their arrival in the Sault, their first residence was listed as 287 Bruce Street. Beryl Fishman became the acting rabbi in Sault Ste. Marie, offering services at the Canadian Order of Foresters Hall in the Hussey Block, Queen Street. The Jewish community in the Sault in the late 1920s consisted of 18 families, around 100 people in total. ​

Sault Daily Star, 1931

In their youth, the three Fishman boys attended Campbell School, and later Sault Collegiate. They worked at the locks and government docks selling newspapers to sailors and ship passengers. From a young age, the Fishman brothers knew that they were destined to go into business. A 1929 Star interview with Jack (incorrectly named John in the article) and Alec stated that they had each made 75 dollars that summer selling newspapers. When interviewer W. M. Arnott asked them what they intend to do with all of their money, Jack replied, “I have a policy to pay, and I get clothes, and when I get older, I am going into business.” When Arnott posed the same question to Alec, he said, “(Jack) and I are partners, and we work together.” ​

In the mid 1930’s Albert got a job working as a clerk at the Hub Clothing Store before moving to Val D'Or, Quebec in 1937. Jack obtained employment at ASC and Alec at Soo Jobbing Co., and later at Friedman’s Clothing.

In January of 1941, Alec Fishman announced that he was resigning from Friedman’s and intended to open his own business. His brother Albert returned from Quebec with his wife, and John left his position at Algoma Steel. In February of that year, Alec took out building permits for repairs to 149 Gore Street. After a purchasing trip to Montreal, Fishman’s Mens Wear opened to the public on February 28th, 1941.

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Fishman's Grand Opening, 1941. Sault Daily Star.

Opening a business at the height of WWII was a risky move, however, the Fishman brothers were confident in their decision. Advertising workwear, hats and quality made-to-measure suits, Fishman’s quickly solidified themselves as reputable menswear retailers. During the 1940s, Fishman’s involved themselves in the Gore Street Merchants Association, various sports leagues, and did their part in supporting the war effort by advertising victory bonds alongside their advertisements.
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The Fishman brothers all maintained close community connections during their time in Sault Ste. Marie. Alec was Grand Noble of the Bessemer Lodge in the early 1940s, and in the later 1950s, president of B’nai Brith. Jack Fishman was secretary of the Sault Hebrew Association and headed the Gore Street Merchants’ baseball league. He also took on the role of president of B’nai Brith in the early 1950s. The Fishman brothers maintained a consistent presence at the Beth Jacob Synagogue.

Albert Fishman, March 1959. From the collection of the Sault Ste. Marie Museum.

 There were many Jewish merchants on Gore and Queen in the 1940s and 1950s which the Fishman family remained close. These merchants included Mr. and Mrs. David Libman (D’Lib Frocks), Mr. and Mrs. N. Himmel (Himmel’s Ladies Wear), Saul Friedman (Friedman’s), Arnold Kates (Con Ell Furs), as well as the Bregman family (Bregman’s Furniture and Appliances), the latter who's business was across the street from Fishman's. In addition to working with many of their fellow merchants in a business capacity, the Fishman's had close personal ties to them as well. Alec Fishman  married Zelda Bregman in 1944, and Albert married Zelda's sister Dorothy Bregman in 1938.

The Fishman's wives, much like their husbands, were very involved in the community. Dorothy Fishman was the Vice President of the Women’s Services for Ontario Board, president of the Cancer Research fund, Chairman of the Cancer Dressings for Ontario Board, chair of the Cancer Gift Cupboard and president of the Jewish Woman’s Auxiliary. Nancy Fishman was an active member of Hadassah and was involved in their incredibly popular Hat Full of Fun events. She was one of a three part presidium that headed the Hadassah executive in the 1960s.  Zelda Fishman was also no stranger to the community, and served as the president of Hadassah in the early 1970s. She was instrumental in organizing several memorable Sault events, including the Hadassah fine art auctions and local performances of Ernie Coombs - Mr. Dressup. In a 1964 Sault Star article, Dorothy Fishman called her volunteering “very challenging but very rewarding”.

L-R Gordon Basest, Thomas Lipen, Mrs. Max Yan, Dr. Max Yan, Nancy Fishman, Jack Fishman. From the collection of the Sault Ste. Marie Museum.

Back, L- R, Mrs. B Garshowitz, Mrs. M. Yan, Mrs. J Basest, Mrs. J Daiter. Front L-R: Mrs. Albert (Dorothy) Fishman, Mrs. B Kert, Mrs. B Cohen. 1957. From the collection of the Sault Ste Marie Museum

L-R Mrs. Teresa Armstrong, Mrs. Zelda Fishman, Mrs. Edith McNichol at Hadassah bridge fundraiser, 1968. From the collection of the Sault Ste. Marie Museum

The early late 1940s into the 1950s were marked by rapid expansion for Fishman’s - including a second store in Thessalon. This store eventually closed in 1953, but that same year Fishman’s expanded within the Sault. A youth clothing store, the Youth Centre, was opened on Gore Street, kitty-corner from Fishman's existing location. Fishman’s celebrated 15 years in business in 1956 with a massive sale at their main location. They participated in Soo Bargain Days and ran several innovative advertising campaigns during the 1950s, including running ads in Italian in an effort to broaden their clientele. Also in the 1950's, Fishman's sponsored a news program on CJIC.

​ In July 1956, Beryl Fishman died at the age of 70 after several years of poor health. He served the Jewish Community in Sault Ste. Marie for over 20 years.

Fishman's Thessalon store, 1952. Sault Daily Star.

The 1960s brought further change. Fishman’s took over management of Northwoods Lodge, a rustic resort offering boat rentals, cottages, and a restaurant in 1960. The lodge was located on Highway 17 near Pancake Bay and had been operating since 1948. The Fishman’s management of the lodge was short-lived, as Corbett’s took over the lodge just a year later in 1961. In February 1963, the decision was made to close the Fishman's Youth Centre on Gore. 

​A mere two years later, in 1965, Fishman’s opened another menswear store at 316 Korah Road in the Harris and Buckley neighbourhood. That same year, Jack Fishman stepped away from the family business to move to Winnipeg with his wife Nancy and their children. Alec and Albert continued both of the menswear stores for two years, and in November of 1967, they closed Fishman's Korah Road location. ​

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Albert and Alec continued Fishman’s at 142 Gore to fair success, continuing to sell quality outerwear, suits and workwear. In 1972, a fire next door to Fishman’s damaged a large quantity of their stock. Just prior to the fire, they were informed that the building they were renting was to be sold and Fishman’s would be forced to vacate. Albert and Alec saw this as a battle they could not win, and chose to close Fishman’s Menswear for good. 

Albert later opened the Miracle Bargain Shop on Queen E., which he ran for eight years after Fishman’s closed. After taking a number of summer courses,  Alec turned to teaching business classes at Korah Collegiate where he had a "good rapport" with his students. In 1980, Albert Fishman passed at the age of 65, and in 1986, Alec at the age of 69. Jack Fishman remained in Winnipeg with his family until he passed in 2014.