Atkinson’s suited us fine for five decades

Farewell, Atkinson’s, we hardly knew ye.

Actually, that’s not wholly true. Just about any well-dressed man

who’s called the Newport-Mesa area home at some point over the last

five decades knows a little something about the clothing store, which

opened its doors in 1954.

Nearly everything about Atkinson’s exuded class, from the

traditional three-button suits to the plain-front slacks. The Lido

Marina Village store’s clientele -- which included famous names like

actors Rock Hudson and John Wayne, building mogul Donald Bren and

Watergate politico H.R. “Bob” Haldeman -- reflected a bygone era, one

where being in style didn’t mean snapping up the latest fad to come

over from Europe.

There was only one style that Atkinson’s carried -- the

traditional one.

It’s almost ironic that Atkinson’s is closing its doors. After

all, owner Gordy Atkinson did such a good job of matching his

customers with the best tailored clothes, they didn’t need to get new

items or replace the old ones. With the rise of a new generation

whose tastes ran more toward the eclectic, the venerable store seemed

more like an artifact.

“Everybody’s older that shops here; they’ve got three sport coats

already; and my stuff will last you a lifetime,” Atkinson said

recently.

With the closing of Atkinson’s doors on Feb. 12, there are other

outlets where men can find tailored suits. They’ll be able to tap

into the fashion trends by hitting the shops at Fashion Island or

South Coast Plaza. They might even be able to find the same kind of

sharp pieces that Atkinson’s carried for 51 years.

But they’ll never be able to match the classic style and

traditional look that Atkinson’s clothes brought to the fashionable

Newport-Mesa male.

We’ll miss Atkinson’s, not just for what it provided, but for the

simpler era it represented.