Keezer's Set To Vacate Old Shop

What do Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54, Professor of Government Martin L. Kilson, George Bush's nephew, and Ted Hennessey '88 all have in common? They've all bought tuxedos at Keezer's, which, says its owner, supplies "fine-quality traditional men's clothing, new and used, always a bargain."

But soon Kennedy, Kilson, Bush, and Hennessey will have to face an important change. Keezer's is moving--from Concord Ave., far beyond the Quad, to River Street in Central Square.

"Our building now is old and it leaks," says owner Leonard E. Goldstein. "So we decided to look for a new one. Our new space is twice as big, and it's convenient to a lot more people."

To make Keezer's move to its new space possible, Goldstein obtained a $200,000 loan through the Cambridge Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), a city association that works with small businesses that need loans to expand or renovate.

Keezer's is the first renovated commercial business to move into the Cambridgeport area with the help of this loan program. "It's a turning point in the development of the area," says David G. Hughes, CEDC chairman. "It's the beginning of a resurgence for Cambridgeport.

"If Keezer's makes it on River St., we'll look for others to complement his effort," says Pablo Calderone, director of the Riverside/Cambridge Community Corporation, a group concerned with development in the area.

Leonard Goldstein appears unconcerned. "We get 20-30 calls a day, asking us where we're moving and how to get there. We don't expect business to change with the move."

Keezer's, most famous for its $47.50 used tux, was founded 90 years ago by the three brothers Keezer, to sell clothes at low prices to students and young professionals "who wanted to look great for not much money," says Goldstein, who has owned Keezer's since 1978.

"In the old days, wealthy Harvard students weren't given any spending money, just a clothing allowance. So they would go to J. Press and get a suit made with their clothing allowance and sell it to Keezer's to get their beer money," says Goldstein.

Keezer's clientele is still mostly college students, but then "a lot of them grow up, graduate, get jobs and keep shopping here. But no matter what, they always remember us," he says.

This was proven last year in the spring, when an old, grey-haired man hobbled slowly and painfully into the store. He introduced himself as John F. Kennedy's valet, who used to come monthly to Keezer's to buy clothes for "the young master."