The post-World War II era featured additional clothing stores entering the downtown Holyoke shopping area. One that had a twenty-year run was the very popular Coret Casuals, a women's clothing store.
Coret Casuals opened its doors at 291 Maple Street on March 5, 1953. The shop was owned by Bertram, better known as Bert, and Shirley Yarus Berger. Bert Berger gained his experience in New York City. He was a graduate of New York University's School of Retailing, which he attended after graduating from American International College.
After working for a time in New York City at several major retailers, he returned to Northampton to work at Berger's, a clothier operated by his father, Louis Berger. Coret Casuals was Bert Berger's first business venture.
The store was known as a women's specialty shop, carrying the latest styles of sports apparel. The store frequently participated in furnishing apparel to numerous fashion shows hosted by area religious, civic, and social organizations. This was a way of giving, as well as receiving positive publicity and name recognition for the shop.
In 1958, the Bergers opened a second women's clothing store in South Hadley Center. This was called the Campus Shop. In August 1966, a third shop was opened. This was the Pied Piper, located in a newly constructed building on East Pleasant Street.
In August 1968, Coret Casuals moved from its Maple Street Shop to 321 High Street. This was the location of the former P&Q Men's Shop. The new location would be completely refurbished, including a flagstone entrance and additional access from the rear of the store adjacent to a new parking lot on Maple Street.
The store operated at this location for five years and closed during the summer of 1973. The Bergers planned to consolidate the Holyoke store into the Campus Shop in South Hadley, moving into a larger space.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
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