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Hersh In The House
A Boardwalk mainstay has treasures for all women.
Lynne Konstantin
I
Contributing Writer
H
arold Rothenberg does it all.
The consummate salesman, he
knows how to form a connection
with each and every customer, knows the
names of all their family members and
will tell them when something looks fabu-
lous on them — or that they should keep
looking. He has fun with them, and they
often order lunches in just to hang out
with him.
But he also has an eye for the awesome.
The owner of Hersh's in West
Bloomfield, coming up on its 30th
anniversary this summer, Rothenberg
— whose nickname, Hersh, stuck "dur-
ing my BBYO days," he says — has had
a hand in retail and fashion since he was
15. Working at various men's and boys'
wear shops around town, he later helped
out his mom, owner of Just Marilyn's
in Southfield, in sales and as a buyer.
Wherever he worked, he brought along his
own following.
So when he graduated from Groves
High School, he knew what he wanted to
do: Rothenberg had the full support of
his parents as he hit the road as a sales
rep before opening his own shop at the
Boardwalk in West Bloomfield at the age
of 24. Specializing in women's wear with
a small men's section, he soon expanded
into women's-only and
epitomized the meaning
of a true boutique.
Styles may have
changed since 1984, but
many of his customers
have not — and now
they bring their kids
and grandkids. And
Rothenberg knows how
to please them all.
"I still wait hand-and-foot on my older
clients, and they love that I know what
they love" says Rothenberg, who lives in
Farmington Hills. But his passion for fash-
ion and sense of what's fresh has evolved
with the times as well. "I never look at
labels, and I don't read fashion magazines,"
he says. "But I love to seek out what's new,
and to discover unique pieces, materials
and fits:'
With help from his wife, Caryn, daugh-
ter, Jessica (who is studying elementary
education but always has a hand in sales,
buying and social media), son Shelby
(when he's home from Michigan State
University) and a family of employ-
ees in the shop as well as the extended
Boardwalk family, Rothenberg has recently
38
November 14 • 2013
Above: Asymmetrical knit by 360 Sweater.
Above right: Lace dress by Olvi's.
Right: Shibori tie-dye cashmere and merino
throws by Kevin O'Brien Studio.
Hot pink and
maroon water-
snake clutch
by Loeffler
Randall
completed a full renova-
tion of the boutique, to
give his customers and
his finds the full focus.
Merchandise includes
chic snakeskin clutches
by Loeffler Randall,
roomy bags by MZ
CLOSET CRAVINGS
Looking for a great gift or standout
party-wear? Harold Rothenberg's
daughter, Jessica, 24, shares the sea-
son's trends:
• Animal prints never go away, but
subtly emblazoned on a band-collared
cashmere and silk Equipment blouse
and paired with leather leggings, the
look goes from call of the wild to cock-
tail.
• Embellished details, like a jeweled
crewneck or studded seams, add inter-
and Luna, a hand-
loomed line exclusive
in Michigan to Hersh's.
"Dressing up has
become more casual"
Rothenberg says.
"There's a lot of layer-
ing, and there are a lot
of sweaters and leg-
gings. So things have
to stand out — every
piece we have is special.
We have ponte legging
jeans and sweaters
trimmed with leather.
And we have fantastic
dresses. It's all about
the details"
Whenever pos-
sible, Rothenberg
buys from the U.S.A.
"It's the backbone
of my business" he
says. "I owe my busi-
ness to the people
who have supported
a local, independent
business, and I have
to do the same. I
do my best to keep
business alive, and to
show the kids who
are coming back
from New York and
Chicago to raise their
families here that
there's something
Wallace and luscious cashmere blankets
and throws by Qi Home. Playful, sculp-
tural home-decor pieces (including meno-
rahs) by Jonathan Adler and hand-picked
candles, vases and other gifts embellish
every case and corner of the store, amid
minimalist luxe sweaters and knits by 360
Sweater, Equipment, Autumn Cashmere
going on here"
But how does Rothenberg really know
he's still got it?
"Hersh's is my 24-year-old daughter's
favorite store for sweaters," he says.
est and a bit of glamour, Jessica says.
• Delicate lace can be dressed down
or up, says Jessica, who loves (along
with much of Hollywood) Olvi's exqui-
site jewel-toned frocks for an elegant
soiree or New Year's cocktail party,
or "pair a lace skirt
with a white blouse or
a satin and lace top by
Equipment with jeans to a
dinner party," she says.
• Camo and skulls have
made it to cashmere.
Jessica loves Autumn Cashmere's
graphic camouflage designs on their
feminine fits; hot label 360 Sweater
has answered faithful fans' pleas by
introducing Skull Cashmere, a line
devoted to the look.
❑
Hersh's, West Bloomfield (248-626-7776;
look for Hersh's on Facebook).
Snood from Skull
Cashmere (a line by
360 Sweater)