History
During the 1880s and 1890s, Jeremiah G. Hickey (1866–1960) was a bookkeeper for Wile, Brickner & Wile, then the largest manufacturer of men's clothing in Rochester. His close friend Jacob L. Freeman (died 1925) was a private contractor of the firm. Together with fellow Wile, Brickner & Wile employees Thomas Mahon and George A. Brayer, they formed Hickey, Freeman, & Mahon Co. in 1899. Since Jeremiah ("Jerry") Hickey contributed the most capital, and Mahon made no original investment, the name was changed in 1900 to the Hickey-Freeman Co.
In 1902, the company was able to take over the business and the larger premises of Michael Kolb & Co. Hickey-Freeman grew even more, and in 1908 it merged with Beckel, Baum & Leopold Co., retaining the Hickey-Freeman name. The president of Beckel, Baum & Leopold Co. was Emmett Baum, who became vice-president of Hickey-Freeman Co. after the merger. Baum was largely responsible for Hickey-Freeman's decision in 1908 to manufacture only high quality clothing. At that time, ready-to-wear suits were seldom made with hand-craftsmanship of any quality, but Hickey-Freeman recognized the importance of quality in the manufacture of men's clothing.
By 1912, Hickey-Freeman Co. had amassed enough capital and business to build a larger, more modern factory on N. Clinton Ave. on the city's northern outskirts. Known as The Temple, this location was chosen in order to retain the company's skilled workers, after a survey showed that a majority of the company's employees lived within walking distance of this area. Although the new factory was one of the most complete facilities of its kind in the country, it became necessary for Hickey-Freeman to add space to the building twice more during the 1920s, to accommodate the company's increased volume and over 1,700 employees.
The Hartmarx Corporation bought the company in 1964.
In 2004, the factory underwent extensive renovations, funded in part by $4 million in state taxpayer money and $1 million from Rochester city taxpayers.[6]
Hartmarx went bankrupt in the USA in 2009 and their assets were acquired n August 2009 by Emerisque Brands UK and its partner SKNL North America and moved into the HMX holding company. In 2012, Authentic Brands Group, an intellectual property corporation with a mandate to acquire, manage and build long-term value in prominent consumer brands, purchased HMX, including Hickey Freeman.
In 2013, Grano Retail Investments Inc., also owner of luxury tailored menswear brand Samuelsohn Ltd., acquired the tangible assets of Hickey Freeman including the Rochester factory, and a forty year license to the Hickey-Freeman brand name.[7]
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Hickey Freeman shifted its production to manufacture masks and other personal protective equipment for doctors and medical workers.[8]
On May 18, 2023, it was announced that the manufacturing of Hickey Freeman branded suits would be moved to Mexico[9] with design and production contracted to Peerless Clothing.[10]
The Rochester factory continued to make clothing for other brands, so all workers were able to keep their jobs.[11] The factory also announced plans rebrand as "Rochester Tailored Clothing", and will be opening a retail store in Rochester.[10] The Tom James Co. purchased the former Hickey Freeman factory in 2023.[12]
