Furriers Cliff and Yvonne Katsmakis relocate to Lexington to lead century-old local fur business
embrys
Embrys
For more than 100 years, the owners of the iconic fur boutique and women’s clothing store Embry’s have seen their family name grace the upscale establishment, their history a long and rich one. This November sees a change in leadership as Cliff and Yvonne Katsamakis take over the ownership of Embry’s, and their commitment to the tradition and quality of the name is based on a rich history of their own.
Sixth-generation furriers, their family began in the business in a small town in northern Greece many years ago. But it is their 29-year history of working with the Embry family that has led them to Lexington from New York.
As buyers of furs for the store, their expertise led to a close relationship with both the youngest, Bill Embry, as well as his father, locally known as Mr. Embry. The Katsamakis’ pledge to maintain the Embry family tradition of excellence is based on a relationship with both the business and the family.
“A lot of our meetings over the years took place around our dining room table [in New York] — and then we’d head to the beach,” Yvonne Katsamakis said. A quick smile relayed the fond memories.
Cliff Katsamakis readily admitted that the tie is more than just one of business, but his intent now is to incorporate the old ways with the new.
“We intend to keep the great image Embry’s has and blend it with what’s going on with new fashion trends,” he said.
The tale of the store began with a small millinery shop that opened its doors in 1899 on then-quiet East Main Street in downtown Lexington. William Russell Embry, a well-known horse lover, cordoned off a corner of his sister’s shop to begin his foray into the business of selling women’s clothing. With money borrowed on the basis of his honest face and apparent good character, he used the credit to bring fashions from the east to Lexington, and a tradition was born.
The store’s excellence became synonymous with the name. Harriett Rose, a longtime Lexington resident and well-regarded Embry customer, recalled, “My best-remembered encounter [at Embry’s] was also a joyous one. I took a short mink jacket there … and salesman Bill Embry [II] showed me a coat ordered for a woman who didn’t take it. It was luscious, and I just stood there admiring myself. I said, ‘Sold.’”
For Rose, it was more than a coat — it was a treasured experience.
“I wore it for year, [and] was admired by passerbys even in Moscow and St. Petersburg that winter,” Rose said. “It was an experimental color, bred specially, and only 11 were made. Nothing has ever rivaled that coat. It was an instantly remembered shopping day.”
The year 1971 saw the opening of a second location in Fayette Mall, and it was 1982 when the downtown store closed. The current location in Lansdowne Shoppes opened its doors in 1994, originally as the satellite store for furs and petite fashions.
At its peak, Embry’s employed 250 people and had nine stores, including an Oklahoma City location. The company had a presence in a fur department in a well-known Tulsa, Okla., store as well.
In 1995, when many other businesses felt the economic downturn, Embry’s filed for Chapter 11, emerging back on track a year later on the efforts of the family’s “right-sizing, not downsizing” philosophy. Bill Embry III credited his father’s ability to adapt to changing times as a stabilizing force in the recovery. Recognizing the trend toward more casual clothing, they adjusted their lines, but kept in mind the thought that there was still interest in dressing up. With that, the St. John clothing line became a signature offering among the furs that line the walls, and it is carried still.
Three generations of Embry’s adapted and stepped up to the demands of a market that saw many other like concerns fail. The shopper-friendly atmosphere they created in the Lansdowne Shoppes reflects their acknowledgment that their clientele preferred the personal and local atmosphere that the customer-centric and intimate atmosphere offered.
“Every town has its own charm and warmth,” said Cliff Katsamakis as he sat in the offices above the store. “The Embrys will be helping as consultants, and we are looking forward to updating and sprucing up — and enjoying the charm that we have already encountered here. We are aware that tradition is important in Lexington — a passion — and find the whole new venture here exciting.”
He continued, “Even with their retirement, the Embrys’ words of experience will be well regarded and taken into account. As they’ve said, ‘Tough times don’t last; tough people do.’ Yvonne and I expect to maintain a similar profile of quality, relying on the experience of our salespeople and the concept that great customer service is key.”