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Anybody who has lived in south Butler County for any length of time knows that Evans City is a quiet little town with a couple of lights and a lot of traffic at rush hour, since it is a major route from the city of Butler to routes 79 & 19. Although small, it has a bank a pharmacy, gas station and all of the usual small town necessities. It's also the home of a clothing store with roots that date back to the late 1800's. The original store was opened in 1889 by Andrew Schoeffel as a tailor shop and gents furnishing store, which he ran until 1941,
at which time he turned the business over to his son Anthony, who brought in factory made clothing and ran it until 1972. The shop was then operated by his daughter Sarah Ehrman who took over the business, stocking a full line of work & casual clothes for men, women and children. In 1978 the building that housed the store burned down but Sarah rebuilt and successfully continued to run the store until 1991 when she herself decided to retire.
The store sat vacant for a few years, until Lou and Cindy Westerman, also long time residents of the area, decided to reopen the store and continue the history of the local clothing store. They knew the Schoeffel history and thought that this would be a great opportunity. You see, for the last 13 years, both Lou ad Cindy where owner/operators in the trucking business, hauling belongings across country for the
Mayflower company. The couple was ready for a change their nomadic lifestyle and shift gears so they were not on the road 24/7. They weren't really sure what to do, but they knew the
Schoeffel's and they knew the clothing store had closed, so they decided to reopen the shop, after all Evans City had been without its signature clothing store for some years. In 1994 they opened L.A.W. Clothing and they now stock a complete line of Carhartt and Woolrich and other quality clothing for the working man (and woman).
 As Cindy says, "We sell clothes for those who work hard outdoors and for those who like the outdoors, without the hard work."
That's how it started, L.A.W. Clothing (Louis A. Westerman Clothing) and the store continues to this day, some 12 years later, caring on an Evans City tradition as the only clothier in town. Cindy runs the store from day to day and Lou is there on his days off from his job as a mechanic for Penn Detroit Diesel, where he works on big rig engines. Although Cindy didn't know much about the clothing business when she started, (believe me, she knows plenty now) one of the reasons she has been so successful is simply because of her outgoing, pleasant personality,
and I'm not just saying that because we have been friends for a long while. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "man who does not smile should not be in business." Cindy always has a smile for the customer and genuinely loves people. She also prides herself on great service and a no pressure shopping attitude. She carries 'Carhartt', the best line of work wear available with a wide assortment of jackets, coveralls, jeans, workpants, and shirts and even Carhartt's for children. If she doesn't have what you need, she can special order it for you! She also carries the
Woolrich line of shirts, sweaters and casual clothes for men and women and a nice line of Evans City tee shirts, sweatshirts, hats and much more. L.A.W. Clothing is local shop that has great local history and promotes hometown pride, as well. The shop also offers the convenience of drop off and pick up for dry cleaning from Hutchinson's.
We first met Cindy some 15 years ago as a plant loving customer at our nursery and now we are her customers, as well. I have purchased many items from her over the years, and one of my favorites are my flannel lined Carhartt jeans that keep me warm as toast when I am working outside in the cold winter weather. Get ready for fall - Stop by the store for a pleasurable experience in shopping, and some great sale prices! L.A.W. Clothing is located at 121 East Main Street, in Evans City. Parking is available in the street and behind the building. |
