here since 1922

Shaia’s has been tailored to the needs of our customers for more than 100 years.

by J.L. Shaia

My grandfather, S.G. Shaia, was a remarkable man. At the age of 16, an orphan with no formal education, he came to America from Lebanon with only $10 in his pocket. He eventually made his way to Nashville where he married. In 1905, S.G. moved to Birmingham and began peddling, carrying a large, very heavy pack on his back full of notions and household goods. With so few businesses in outlying areas, peddling was a way to get the merchandise to the customer. You might call it the first door-to-door salesperson. In 1921, he bought four lots south of Birmingham down a dirt road that would eventually become the city of Homewood.

He built a store and a home next door and established a garden of figs and grapevines on the very lot where the present day Shaia’s stands.

S.G.’s wife, Badia, along with their two sons George and Alex (A.J.), ran the store while S.G. continued his peddling. Badia was a very bright, hardworking woman, whose business traits and welcoming personality played a large part in my grandfather’s early success with the store. The first business license lists “bottle drinks and cigarettes.” There was no drug store or grocery on Shaia’s side of the mountain, so they offered the goods that their neighbors needed—establishing, in a modest way, our long tradition of customer service.

George would do the books while Alex helped out

1896 Sixteen-yearold S.G. Shaia arrives at Ellis Island from Lebanon, speaking no English. He makes his way to Nashville, where he begins peddling notions and household goods from a backpack.

1905 S.G. moves to the Southside of Birmingham with his new wife, Badia, and continues selling his wares throughout Jefferson, Shelby and Walker counties– traveling by foot, train and wagon.

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1921-22 S.G. buys four lots in what is now downtown Homewood for $500 each. He moves his family out to the “boondocks” and builds his new store and his home right beside it. Badia runs the store and S.G. continues peddling with a 100-pound pack on his back until about 1930.

1930-40s The store caters to the needs of the community, which originally had no grocery or drugstore, offering everything from toothpaste to work clothes. We’ve been on 18th Street in Homewood for 100 years now—the photo above shows the famous 18th Street “Curve” in the 40s, when Homewood was growing. 1933 S.G.’s son A.J. takes over the store, now known as Shaia’s Dry Goods, specializing in apparel for the entire family.

100th CELEBRATION

running the business. George went to work with the Southern Railroad and would eventually become building inspector for the city of Homewood, serving in that capacity for 20 years.

My grandmother died in 1931 and my father, Alex, took over the store in 1933, guiding it through the Great Depression and World War II. He continued to improve the merchandise selection, eventually becoming a “junior department store.”

In 1955, Shaia’s moved two doors down the street to our present location, and at that time I joined the business. In 1958, my younger brother Leo joined the business. He and I soon realized that the age of specialization was fast approaching and the days of a junior department store were numbered.

We had always wanted a men’s store, and this was our opportunity. Although this was a major departure from the merchandise we had traditionally sold, our father believed in us, and in July of 1963 we shut the business down for a few weeks, completely remodeled and opened back up as a men’s specialty clothing business.

But the going was not easy for us, as there were several very good men’s shops in Birmingham and we were the “new kid on the block.” There were certain brands then that were critically important to establish us as a quality store, but these were being sold to other stores and not available to us. To survive, we had to find unknown, but similarly highquality brands.

We were able to do so, but we got our biggest break when we discovered an up-and-coming new designer by the name of Ralph Lauren and his Polo brand. This was about 1972, and for the next seven or eight years Shaia’s had the brand exclusive in Birmingham. Now, all the big names were coming to us and we were on our way.

In 1982, we took over the building next door to us on the north side. This allowed us to expand all areas of merchandise and to now have a complete shoe department.

In addition, we installed a fully-staffed alterations department. The benefits of this addition were many and come back to our commitment to customer service. Not many smaller men’s stores have the benefit of an in-house alterations department and the service it allows you to give your customers…whether it’s putting the finishing touches to a new made-tomeasure suit or an emergency hem job for someone in need.

In 1986, the fourth generation of Shaia’s, my son Ken joined the business, and soon he was adding his energy and sartorial taste to the mix. During this period of time we began to add more brands and European designers to give the store more of an international flavor.

In the early 2000s, because of our growing national reputation, the store began to receive some recognition. Esquire magazine listed us as one of The Best Men’s Stores in America. MR magazine named us one of the 25 Most Exciting Men’s Stores in America, and the Alabama Retail Association gave us its Gold Award.

In 2015, brother Leo retired, and in 2020 I stepped back from the day-to-day management, so the business is now in Ken’s very capable hands.

We have always tried to make the store itself warm and inviting, and it would be wrong to tell our story without mentioning three local architects who made their mark on Shaia’s. First would be the late Fritz Woehle, who redid the interior in 1982. He exposed the original brick walls and installed our large skylight. In 1996, Joe Giattina designed the handsome and timeless storefront of steel, glass and stucco. Third would be the firm of Dungan-Nequette, which added the dramatic reclaimed arched window in 2013. We are grateful to all these gentlemen.

It’s a long way from a dirt road and a general store to what Shaia’s is today. But we haven’t forgotten our beginnings…at the front of the store is a daily reminder of Shaia’s deeply-rooted history. At Ken’s suggestion, the front-door handle was modeled after the grapevines that his great-grandfather grew in his garden in the very spot where the store is now.

My father and grandfather taught me that success takes hard work, love and passion. Each generation has maintained those same values. Not everyone gets to spend their entire career doing what they love, surrounded by family and friends. I feel very blessed to have been at the store for 65 years and to have worked with each generation. Shaia’s has grown as this community has grown, and we are forever grateful for the support you have given us for 100 years.

1960-80s A.J.’s sons, J.L. and Leo, transform Shaia’s into an upscale specialty store—introducing international menswear labels to Birmingham, and taking a chance on young unknown designers— such as Ralph Lauren and Ermenegildo Zegna. 1986 Ken Shaia becomes the fourth generation to join the family business. 2004-05 MR magazine chooses Shaia’s as one of the 25 Most Exciting Menswear Stores in America. In 2005, Shaia’s wins the first of many Best of Class: Gold Standard awards from Esquire magazine.

1950-70s In 1955, the Shaias move their “junior department store,” offering everything from dress patterns to hiking boots, two doors down to their present location, where it’s still a fixture in the local business community and the neighborhood—like Homewood baseball!

1990-2000s Shaia’s

continues to introduce new designers such as Gravati, Canali, Luciano Barbera, Isaia, Hiltl/Gardeur, John Varvatos and Boglioli– giving the traditional Southern store an international flavor, and expanding made-to-measure services from brands such as Zegna and Trussini. 2019 Listed as one of America’s Most Beautiful Stores by Architectural Digest. This room incorporates the actual rafters of S.G.’s house–along with the foundation of excellent service that he established in 1922. 2022 We celebrated our birthday with a new mark that reflects our beginnings—and a birthday party with longtime customers, friends and family.

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