Long Island is dotted with specialty boutiques for women, but boutiques for men? Not so much. These are rather rare finds.
DK Brothers by Madison’s Niche opened its doors to help fill a void in retail, not only for fashionable men’s clothing, but also for men-friendly lifestyle items.
In the Stony Brook Village store, opened 14 months ago, customers want to have an alternative “to big box stores,” explains Eric Rectanus, sales director of the store. “They say it all the time: ‘There are no men’s stores there.'”
The general atmosphere of the store ranges from “casual to business casual”. We found a very good mix for the generations,” explains Rectanus. “A 20-year-old doesn’t want to look like his dad and your dad doesn’t want to dress like a kid.”
Merchandise includes outerwear, underwear, and everything else like sweaters and loungewear. Ralph Lauren and Tommy Bahama are brands that sell out quickly.
Accessories and care items are also part of the in-store range. Johnnie-O Surfside Fresh ($78) is a popular cologne. “It smells like a day at the beach,” Rectanus said.
The store’s kitchen and home section is a remarkable addition. “A lot of guys are looking to raise the bar in the kitchen,” he says. Bold Gold Hot Sauce to spice up dishes in stunning pomegranate-style containers ($16) has received the chef’s approval from customers.
Barware includes carafes ($34 and up), fish corkscrews ($18) and stainless steel ice cubes for chilling drinks without diluting them ($45).
The store has a wide range of interesting books that cover music, national parks, classic cars, lodges, music and much more. The extensive pet department includes everything from sherpa jackets for dogs ($36) to bird, carrot and pizza slice cat toys ($12 each).
“We have men covered,” Rectanus says. “Why not man’s best friends?”
DK Brothers by Madison’s Niche, 97K Main St., Stony Brook, 631-779-6547, dk-brothers.com