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Dapper Dads

Makeover!

Our contest winners get spruced up in time for Father’s Day.

Lynne Konstantin | Arts & Life Editor
Jerry Zolyn sky | Photographer

W

hen the Jewish News and
the Shirt Box in Farmington
Hills teamed up to award
two deserving dads a wardrobe makeover,
love was in the air.
A slew of grateful moms, children,
grandchildren, siblings and more respond-
ed to the Jewish News call for entrants,
writing about why their nominees were the
most special, the most wonderful, the most
giving of time, energy and self.
“My dad is an honest man who has
worked hard to get where he is,” wrote
Hannah Feld of her father, Jason.
“As a single father raising his 5-year-
old daughter, my brother rarely thinks of
himself and is a fabulous dad,” wrote Diane
Gale of Michael Shreeman.
“My dad is an awesome guy to every-
one,” wrote Michelle Betman of Marc
Betman. “He is my and my sister’s No.
1 fan. But he’s also a good son, brother,
friend. He has done charity work by [rais-
ing money] for brain-tumor research in

Super Dad

Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer

E

very workday is a special kind of
Father’s Day for Phil Elkus.
His youngest son, Ron, has real-
ized dad’s dream of owning a men’s store,
the Shirt Box, where dad, at 90 years old,
shows his own sales talents three days a
week, spring and summer.
“Ron did what I couldn’t do, and I enjoy
seeing how the customers know my son
and rely on him,” Elkus says. “I love retail
and the way my son operates. Today, there
aren’t many one-store operations. It’s most-
ly big [box] places with people walking in
and waiting on themselves.
“I wasn’t brought up that way. I was

42 June 16 • 2016

memory of his wife. He also really needs
some style advice.”
Among the nominees, two stood out to
our panel of judges, including Shirt Box
co-owners Ron Elkus and Rod Brown.
Daniel Lader, 31, is a former scientist
and current stay-at-home dad in West
Bloomfield; he was nominated by his wife,
Jennifer Lader, a rabbi at Temple Israel
in West Bloomfield. Sandy Topper, 68, of
West Bloomfield, sells cars for Page Honda
in Bloomfield Hills; he was nominated by
his daughter, Sarah Gutman.
“We wanted a little style diversity, people
we felt really wanted it and it would make
them happy,” Elkus says. “Neither of the
men are shirt-and-tie guys, so it was fun to
be able to go more with personality. And
they were both so appreciative — they
were really fun.
“We truly feel like we’re part of the
community,” he adds of the 35-year-old
business. “So we love to give back when we
can. This experience was win-win.”

*

Name: Daniel Lader
Nominated By: His wife,
Rabbi Jennifer Lader
Because: “Dan is a stay-at-
home dad for our two babies
and does an incredible job of
taking care of our family,” she
wrote. “He spends so much
of his day painting, coloring,
cooking, playing in the dirt and
doing all sorts of messy toddler
stuff — it would be nice for him
to have some beautiful grown-
up clothes to wear when we
go out.”
What He Said: “It was fun! Rod
and Ron chose clothes for me
that I never would have picked
out for myself — it was nice to
get out of the sweats and into
some dress clothes,” Lader says.
“The clothes fit really well and
are quite dapper. I’m looking
forward to wearing them for
date night with my beautiful
wife.”
What He Took Home: Enzo
cotton pants, Tiglio cotton sport
shirt, Wurkin Stiffs collar stays
and Tallia cotton socks.

BEFORE

>

Name: Sandy Topper
Nominated By: His daughter, Sarah Gutman
an
Because: “Sandy has been a huge Shirt Box x fan for
many years,” Gutman wrote. “Recently he had
ad heart
surgery and has not been feeling the greatest.
est. He is
very eager to get back to work, and a makeover
eover by the
Shirt Box would be the best remedy. Sandy is the best
dad and grandfather — he definitely deserves
ves this!”
What He Said: “It was a fabulous experience,
ce,” Topper
says. “And I absolutely love the clothes that were
selected for me.”
What He Took Home: Ballin wool-blend pants,
ants, Alex
Cannan cotton shirt and sweater and Tallia cotton
socks.

began helping out at the Shirt Box
brought up to wait on the cus-
when it opened in Southfield. After
tomers, listen to them, be nice
retiring from his main job, he con-
and show new merchandise. One
tinued with the store as it relocated
thing they’re noted for here is
in Farmington Hills.
service. That’s why they’ve been
“A lot of men don’t know what
in business for 35 years.”
goes with what — the suit with the
To which his son replies, “My
shirt or the shirt with the suit,” says
father was my mentor, in business
Phil Elkus
Elkus, who enjoys recommend-
and in life. And he’s still helping
ing stylish shirts, casual pants and
me out.”
sports coats as Father’s Day gifts for others.
Phil Elkus’ love for retail started as
“They leave that up to the salesman, and I
he worked part-time in sales during his
show them how colors blend in.
Cincinnati high-school years. After gradu-
“If someone comes in for a tie, I also
ation, he moved on to run a men’s store in
might show a sports coat. If I get one out of
Norwood, Ohio.
10 people to buy, it makes me feel good.”
“I came to Detroit in 1950,” he recalls.
Larry Tisdale is a customer who has
“An uncle who owned a men’s store said he
would teach me everything so I could go
made Elkus feel good for many years.
back to Cincinnati and open a business. I
“Phil always has a smile and knows the
got married and never went back.”
right things to say,” Tisdale says. “I’m not a
Elkus, who built a three-decades career
clothes person, but I usually end up buy-
as a representative for Levi Strauss & Co.,
ing more than I intended, whether shirts,

Before

accessories or occasionally pants. He’s will-
ing to go out of his way to help, and I leave
in a good mood.”
Elkus says that being from the old school
inclines him to dress up a bit for the store.
Occasionally, he’ll wear a suit. Generally,
he’s in a shirt and tie with dress pants and
maybe a sports coat.
“I think it’s important that a salesman
look nice,” explains Elkus, who makes a
point of remembering customers’ names.
“If a salesman doesn’t look nice, maybe
customers will think he doesn’t know what
he’s doing.”
Both Ron Elkus and his business partner
of 13 years, Rod Brown, call the senior Elkus
a “chameleon.” “He becomes who the cus-
tomer wants him to be to help each one feel
comfortable. It’s really awesome to watch
him in action,” Brown says. Adds Ron Elkus,
“Dad has phenomenal energy, and people
are drawn to him. He’s very well-loved.”

