M. Dumas & Sons reinvests in historic downtown Charleston store with $2M renovation
September 15, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – Over the past few months, M. Dumas & Sons, Charleston’s iconic menswear retailer, has invested approximately $2 million into the renovation of its iconic King Street retail store and at the end of the month, will celebrate the completion of this endeavor. The renovation, which focused on the 8,400-square-feet of retail space on the building’s first floor, is the result of M. Dumas & Son’s CEO and third generation owner David Dumas’ desire to provide a fresh, updated look for customers, while preserving much of the building’s historic elements and the specialty store’s comfortable atmosphere. M. Dumas & Sons was established in 1917 and moved into its current King Street location in 1973.
M. Dumas & Sons will celebrate the completion of its renovation with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Sept. 25, with long-time Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and Dumas. There will also be a series of public events and promotions beginning on Friday that will continue through the weekend for the general public.
Originally built in the late 1880s, the brick and mortar of the building indicates that it was erected following the great earthquake of 1886, with the 296 King Street building being slightly older than the 294 King Street building.
Updates that customers can experience include updated walls and apparel space, including sections where the building’s original interior brick walls are now visible, revealing 200-year-old bricks on the 296 building, and bricks that date back over 100 years on the 294 building.
The entire showroom floor has been replaced with reclaimed pinewood harvested from old barns in the Carolinas. The company also replaced all cabinets and fixtures with new, custom built ones. Additionally, the company is restoring the exterior awnings that were used beginning in the 1920s. The building’s historic freight elevator, one of the first in a commercial space in downtown Charleston, will also be restored to its original condition as the last step in the project. Many of the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems within the building were also replaced to complete the overhaul.
The renovation team included Charleston-based architects Reggie Gibson and Will Wingfield of Reggie Gibson Architects and Mike Blanchard with Blanchard Construction.
“We are pleased to present an updated, yet authentic look to our customers with the completion of our renovation,” said Dumas. “We realize how much the store is synonymous with King Street and believed that it was important to focus on restoring our beautiful, historic building rather than looking for a new home outside of the Peninsula.”
“Nearly a year ago, we started working with David Dumas and his team to explore how we could best preserve the unique feel of the M. Dumas & Sons store while providing a refreshed look and classic feel to the historic building,” said Will Wingfield of Reggie Gibson Architects. “We worked closely with the Historic Charleston Foundation and the Preservation Society of Charleston to restore the building in a way that is true to its time period while also updating the quality of the structure itself.”
During the renovation, Dumas insisted that the store remain open for its loyal customers, so that the superior customer service and wide array of menswear were never compromised. Blanchard Construction worked closely with Dumas to ensure that most work was either completed after hours or in small sections of the store during operating hours, so as to create minimal interference.
“The renovation involved taking an iconic, well established store in historic downtown Charleston and making it even more established,” said Mike Blanchard of Blanchard Construction. “By exposing the building’s historical elements and highlighting its classic Charleston appeal, we were able to bring a fresh and elegant touch to the space that fits the Dumas brand perfectly.”
About M. Dumas & Sons
Founded in 1917 by Mendel Dumas, M. Dumas & Sons has evolved into an iconic men’s specialty retailer in the historic downtown district of Charleston, S.C. Initially known as a uniform shop for service jobs, M. Dumas & Sons evolved into becoming the sole provider of uniforms for naval officers stationed in the seaside town, as well as offering an expansive array of hunting and outdoor apparel. Beginning in the 1960s, M. Dumas & Sons became known for its fashion denim, and transitioned fulltime into the men’s apparel arena in 1993 with the addition of Tommy Bahama to its product offerings, when Tommy Bahama was a little known brand. In the fall of 2015, M. Dumas & Sons completed a $2 million renovation of its iconic store, solidifying its position as the Town and Country clothier of the Lowcountry. Today, Charleston locals and tourists alike still consider M. Dumas & Sons a welcoming, historic King Street specialty retailer who is a permanent staple of the city’s landscape.
