The first time Maus & Hoffman let a customer inside its Las Olas Boulevard store, gas at the station across the street cost 18 cents a gallon.
And a used car dealership did business near by.
Those things are long gone, but Maus & Hoffman, in its 75th year, has become a staple and point of reference along a transient strip.
“I’m very proud to be part of the business that’s still going after 75 years,” said John Maus, 64, president of the high-end clothing retailer and one of several Maus family members involved in the business.
“We have tremendous loyalty. Our customers are all very much invested in our family’s business. They feel as if they’re almost a shareholder.”
A Maus & Hoffman shopper — mainly 45- to 60-year-old men — is one who travels the world, likely to spend about $5,000 on a quality outfit from head to toe. He is looking for clothing not found anywhere else, Maus said. Among the labels offered at the company’s four shops — Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Naples and Vero Beach — are Brioni, Hickey Freeman and Maus & Hoffman’s own Solemar, made in Italy.
As in the early days, Maus & Hoffman customers want the best, but their way of obtaining it has changed.
About 10 years ago, the company launched a website to reach online shoppers. It’s active on social media accounts, posting photos of suits and ties and upcoming store events and promotions. It also has expanded its catalog service, reaching customers all over the country.
The Maus & Hoffman story starts with founders William Maus Sr. and Frank Hoffman, Michigan natives who also ran a shop there.
Back in the day, the Maus & Hoffman store in downtown Fort Lauderdale used to close during the scorching summer months, and its owners would pack up and head to Michigan, John Maus said.
No one wanted to shop for cashmere sweaters, leather jackets and bowties drenched in sweat — the Las Olas Boulevard shop wasn’t air conditioned.
The Michigan store eventually closed, and Maus & Hoffman continued in South Florida, blossoming from increasing tourism and amenities — like AC — that made the region a year-round destination. Maus & Hoffman’s clientele is about 60 percent tourists, 40 percent locals, Maus said.
For Tom Maus, Jr. 54, who runs the Fort Lauderdale flagship store, says the location at 800 E. Las Blvd. has great sentimental value not just for its longevity, but also because that’s where he worked alongside his father, Thomas Maus Sr., who taught him the ins and outs of the business before passing away in 2013.
“He was a mentor to me,” Tom Maus Jr. said.
Seven members of the Maus family — brothers, uncles and cousins — work for Maus &Hoffman.
“It’s neat,” John Maus said. “You can always rely on family.”
, 954-356-4526, Twitter @MiriamValverde
