LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION ON A DEPARTMENT STORE IN SAN FRANCISCO CALLED, "ROBERT S. ATKINS" WAS LACATED AT 168 SUTTER STREET. WHAT WAS THE STORE LIKE INSIDE AND OUT AND WHO WAS ROBERT S. ATKINS???If anyone has any information about this store please email me at, jacksonlittle48@yahoo.com Thanks, J.L.

-- jackson little (jacksonlittle48@yahoo.com), November 05, 2002

Answers

Sounds like half of what became the Roos Atkins clothing store chain, which was also national, as in this article: http://www.coddingtownmall.com/history.html

They sold very good clothing, classic stuff like Brooks Brothers. The Roos Atkins label is used as a selling point on eBay. They went out of business (late 70s?) and the Ross Dress for Less store is in what used to be their big (several stories) store on Market Street.

If I remember right, you can still see the Atkins name in the sidewalk where their main entrance used to be on Sutter.

-- Rosa (rosadebon@yahoo.com), November 06, 2002.

Thank you so much for helping me. I have an old photograph of the "ROBERT S. ATKINS" department store and trying to put dates and timeline together with the photo. I know nothing about S.F. But as you look at this old photo you can't help but to dream , "WHO,WHAT WHEN AND WHERE" . Its all part of an old Diary from 1931. it also talks about a Carolyn estate house with 96 rooms. Trying to find if that "Carolyn Estate House " is still around.

Thanks,

Jackson Little

-- Jackson Little (jacksonlittle48@yahoo.com), November 06, 2002.

There were a couple of Robert S. Atkins stores. I think Robert S. Atkins sold quality clothing a luggage.

I used to shop at Roos Bros. before it became Roos Atkins. The original store on 4th and Market is now the Virgin Record store. They relocated across the street where Ross is now located.

In 1964, in the 10th grade, I bought a $10 push button to CLOSE the umbrella. It was nifty. Everyone else had a push open. I could stay dry to the last second before I got on the bus.

-- Mau Go (maugo99@hotmail.com), December 05, 2002.

Thanks for all the help I've been getting about Robert S. Atkins Department Store. Would anyone know why and when it was sold out? Thanks! JL

-- Jackson (jacksonlittle48@yahoo.com), December 06, 2002.

My grandfather sold roos bros. to a man named ed gower who also purchased the atkins department store chain and then combined the two before selling the Roos Atkins chain to GENESCO in the late 70s. The Carolands mansion is located in my town of hillsborough, about 15 minutes south of san francisco. The home was purchased a few years ago by the johnson family and has been under restoration for quite a while, although I believe the process is mostly completed. The home is located on Remilard street off Pulman, another former owner of the home.

-- William Roos (willroos@yahoo.com), March 11, 2003.

I have just ordered a pre owned Robert S Atkins Harris Tweed sports jacket from the Rusty Zipper Company. When it arrives I will check if there is a store address label in it and will inform you. I wonder how old it is. Did Roos Atkins continue to use the Robert S Atkins name for its goods. Does mr Roos know?

Harris Tweed is the top quality Scottish woven tweed fabric, which is strictly controlled. Only the best stores would have their own label Harris Tweed.

-- Brian Morley (brian@kyouei.co.uk), April 18, 2003.

Jackson: My name is Connie Lewsadder and my grandfather was Graydon B.Colburn who worked for Roos/Atkins for many years, became president of the company for about 7 years and then retired as the CEO back in the 1960s. It was a very fine men's clothing store throughout California.

Connie Lewsadder

-- Connie Lewsadder (connie.lewsadder@sonoma.edu), April 25, 2003.

Brian- If the garment was purchased after the merger, the label would read Roos-Atkins. They were not what you would call one of the very best stores, but, rather, somewnere in the middle. They were, for a while, a good sized chain with many stores in the new shopping malls that were springing up around the bay area in the 50's and 60's. The old Roos Bros. was a bit classier with a casual, collegiate emphasis. (college students dressed alot better back then if they could afford it)

-- Don Martinich (dutchm@dcn.davis.ca.us), April 26, 2003.

There was also a Roos Atkins store in Berkeley. It was on Shattuck between University and Addison. That part of Shattuck, called Shattuck Square, where the street splits and one direction of traffic goes on one side of these two small blocks and the other direction on the other side. You can still see in the side walk as you enter (and I think on the building) where it says Roos Atkins.

-- J. Fisher (jsfisher92@yahoo.com), May 20, 2003.

I have my grandmother's grey leather coat with natural blue fox collar which was purchased form Roos Atkins in the 70's. Four generations have worn this coat and it looks like new. She paid $275.oo for it. I found the tags in the pocket when I inhereted it last year. Just thought that it is neat that an article of clothing could last this long and still look like a million bucks!

-- linda taylor (tayhaynie@hotmail.com), February 11, 2004.

Dear Connie, I am an antiques dealer operating in Ankara, Turkey. I recently came across a women's short jacket, with label reading Roos Bros California. I was amazed with its style and material, which certainly reflected quality. So much so that, I named it "The Doris Day's". It sent me back to sixties and to my one year happy stay in Lond Island, NY, in 1962 and reminded me how pretty were things then.

-- hasan petekkaya (hpetekkaya@kablonet.com.tr), March 16, 2004.

Roos Brothers and Atkins merged. They had some real nice stores in SF. Downtown and one in Stonestown. I believe when they sold, Grodin's of California took over most of their stores. Grodin's was very similar to R/A. They had an ad campaign going for a while where local guys would become "The Grodin's Man" and be featured on billboards, (shoeless for some reason). A huge competition between them and The Men's Wearhouse resulted in Geroge Zimmer winning out... (I GUARANTEE it!). When Grodin's went under, a short-lived place called C&R took over and now that's gone as well. The Carolans(s/p) mansion is in Hillsborough. I remember a killing taking place there in the 70's. Some security guard for the place, which sat empty for many years, brought his victim there and killed her.

-- Don Beppino (DonBeppino@hotmail.com), March 16, 2004.

I have come across a small megaphone [approx. 10" in length] colored a burgundy red and with the Roos Bros name in a mustard yellow. Does anyone know its significance to the family or business?

-- Richard Garcia (richtoad@pacbell.net), April 28, 2004.