Goldstein’s Men’s & Boys’ Wear in South Philadelphia is one of the few local spots that specialize in the formal white suits worn by boys for their First Holy Communion, writes Mike Newall for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
For 122 years, hundreds of families from neighborhood parishes and diocesan schools from the region have been flocking to Goldstein’s every spring, which is when most churches celebrate the sacrament.
While parents can buy white communion suits on Amazon or in big box stores these days, Goldstein’s offers parents a quality, one-stop shop that will cover all of their communion needs. In addition to elegant three-piece suites, the store offers white shoes, white belts, and white ties.
The suits are fitted, tailored, and altered each with a personal touch.
“I treat every little guy like a little man,” said salesman Jack Rehr, who has worked at Goldstein’s for 20 years.
Goldstein’s sells more than 200 white suits each year, according to owner Vinny Talotta.
Despite being a small storefront, Goldstein’s sells about as many white suits as any store in the county.
“Nobody does the white suits like us,” Talotta said. “That’s our thing.”
Read more about Goldstein’s Men’s & Boys’ Wear and the history of white suits for Holy Communion at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in March 2024..
