At the age of 16, Philip Scotti was drawn to the menswear apparel industry, an interest that would shape the course of his life. On January 1, after 54 years in the business, Scotti sold his cherished stores, Philip Michael Fashion for Men, and retired.
Philip Michael Fashion for Men has been a staple in Hampton Roads, offering quality menswear at up to 50% off department store prices. The stores also provide tuxedo rentals and sell suits, sport coats, pants, dress shirts, ties, shoes, hats, and accessories. The five stores in Norfolk, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, were sold to Bishan Dass, a seasoned menswear expert from Cary, North Carolina, who also owns other clothing stores. The sale came about after a delivery mix-up led to a meeting between Scotti and Dass, which quickly evolved into discussions about the future of the stores.
Dass plans to expand Philip Michael Fashion for Men up the East Coast, with goals to double the stores’ footprint over the next two to three years. He has kept all the employees on board and is looking to hire additional staff.
Scotti’s journey in the menswear industry began while he was still in high school. He worked part-time at Chwatsky’s, a now-closed specialty store on Long Island. He found his passion for fashion and decided to pursue it further. After attending community college in upstate New York and studying marketing, Scotti met his mentor, Marvin Blumenfeld, who taught him invaluable lessons in retail and customer-focused store layouts.
Scotti moved to Hampton Roads in 1977, where he helped run a going-out-of-business sale for a chain of menswear shops. Alongside his late father-in-law, George Newman, Scotti went on to help launch several menswear chains in the region. By the 1980s, he had begun running local stores for Eagle Clothes, growing the business to seven locations. In the 1990s, he joined S&K Famous Brands and worked his way up to vice president of operations. After 15 years with S&K, Scotti decided to open his own value-priced menswear business, launching Philip Michael Fashion for Men in 2007.
Scotti’s wife, Eileen, played a crucial role in the business, handling bookkeeping and helping the store not just survive, but thrive. Their children, Adam and Jonathan, worked in the business as well, with their daughter, Lisa, contributing to store layouts and social media efforts.
Kim Rivera, an area manager who’s worked for Scotti since the brand’s early days, praised him as a hardworking leader who was always present in the stores. She recalled Scotti’s philosophy of making people look good, which made them feel good.
Scotti’s influence extended beyond business. Tommy Graves, owner of Graves Funeral Home in Norfolk, said he has been outfitting his staff with Scotti’s merchandise for years. Scotti’s focus on service and expertise helped his business thrive even as online shopping became more prevalent.
The pandemic was a challenge for Scotti, leading to the closure of one of his stores. But he credits those difficult times with making him a better business owner, as he learned to manage a floating budget and keep expenses in check. The 2020s saw a surge in sales, as men updated their wardrobes and took advantage of government stimulus payments.
Throughout his career, Scotti valued mentoring others, giving back to the community through volunteer work with the Southside Boys & Girls Club and the Toby’s Dream Foundation. He also enjoyed working with the military’s Transition Assistance Program to teach men how to dress for success.
While retired, Scotti plans to remain involved in retail as a consultant for small businesses through the Retail Alliance in Hampton Roads. His post-retirement plans include traveling with his wife, taking cruises, and exploring Europe—where he will surely continue to be impeccably dressed.
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