The Store
Owned by 2 legendary Detroiters, Tony Stovall and Cliff G. Green. Hot Sams is an iconic Detroit Mens Fashion Brand built on an essential lifestyle promise. The Hot Sams brand has always been synonymous with High Quality Detroit Style. The story goes that in 1974 a couple of determined and hard working young men worked their way up the retail ladder at Hot Sams and in 1994 became owners of the very store they worked at, which makes this fashion and lifestyle label a true American/ Detroit Dream personified.
TEAM
CLIFF G. GREEN
LAUREN STOVALL
TERENCE BEASLEY
TONY STOVALL
Founded
Hot Sam’s Quality Clothing (former name) opened under owner Sam Freedman at 1317 Brush Street.
Start of Tony and Cliff
Tony Stovall & Cliff Green worked as salesmen at Hot Sam’s
Start of Tony and Cliff
Tony Stovall and Cliff G. Green purchased Hot Sam’s
Start of Tony and Cliff
Under new ownership Hot Sams broke past sales records, averaging about 1.6 million dollars in sales.
UNCF Fundraiser
Hot Sams began hosting an annual black-tie in-store fundraiser for the Lou Rawls United Negro College Fund (UNCF) that brought out the “whos who of Detroit” and over a span of 5 years raised $250,000 for the organization.
Detroit Public Schools
Hot Sams began work with the Detroit public school system participating in mentorship programs, career days, and Dress for success initiatives.
Location Moved
Moved around the corner to the newly built Compuware Headquarters at 127 Monroe Avenue.
Detroit Elections Department
Started working with the Detroit Elections Department office with the voter’s clerks to help increasing voting.
Grand Reopening
Celebrated a Grand Reopening with the sponsorship of Bedrock Detroit to reveal new store renovations and refresh of the product line and reveal of the new line of suits called Power Collection.
Hot Sam's Day
Hot Sam’s celebrated 99 years in business with an exclusive “Countdown to 100” Celebration in the atrium of the One Campus Martius Building in Downton Detroit. At this celebration, Detroit City Council awarded Hot Sam’s with “Hot Sam’s Day” to be recognized on March 18th and Mayor Duggan and the city of Detroit awarded Hot Sam’s with the key to the city.
Surviving The Pandemic
Hot Sam’s closed it’s doors on March 16, 2020, for the first time ever in 99 years as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, and 4 days later on March 20, 2020, Hot Sam’s launched its first-ever e-commerce website. Continuing to show their perseverance, resilience, and tenacity that has kept them in business for 99 years thus far, Hot Sam’s began navigating through the unchartered waters of the global pandemic. Hot Sam’s received national coverage on CBS as well as local coverage with their strategy for surviving the pandemic. Square, Inc. launched a national TV and radio campaign that featured Hot Sam’s and was aired on ESPN, CNN, NBC, etc. Hot Sam’s hosted Harry Smith in store for a socially distant sit-down interview that was aired on the Today Show about the 1967 Detroit riot. Hot Sam’s entered into a new partnership and received support from Fifth Third Bank to expand the infrastructure of their online store. Hot Sam’s reopened the doors of their store in June 2020 and began the journey of thriving yet again.