Located on 1818 Chestnut Street stands Boyds, the premier luxury department store of Philadelphia that dresses anyone from grooms, lawyers, and rappers to sports stars. When I was 18, I passed the store in awe and slight intimidation at its grandeur and high price tags. With freshman year of college coming to a close, I decided it was time to get a job and thought of the large building with white columns. I applied online through their website and, to my surprise, received a call a month later to come in. My interview was stranger than usual. Why? Because it felt so casual. My now manager asked me about my favorite foods, our human resources head asked who my style icon was, and our systems operations manager asked me what I like to do for fun. That three-part interview was my first glance that the 86-year-old establishment was not as intimidating as it seemed. And after almost two years of working at Boyds, I now consider my coworkers my work family. Before I graduate, I wanted to introduce the individuals who have been here the longest and who truly embody our slogan; “Boyds for Life.”

Kathleen Smedley

Customer Service Manager, 29 years

Kathy is my manager and one of the funniest people I know. Not a shift goes by without her making you laugh. She always looks out for your well-being, cracking corny jokes and bringing us homemade soup for lunch and baked goods for snacks. I not only consider her my manager but also the store’s mom-ager.

When asked how she found out about the job, she said, “This is gonna sound really old-fashioned, but I found it in the help wanted section in the newspaper.” She ended up staying because the job was never boring. “Every day was different. It was a challenge,” she said. “You meet a lot of different people and work with a lot of different people. As time has gone on, it’s become my career.” Kathy revealed to me that she became the manager by default. She was put into a supervisor role but was given management duties, so she spoke up. “You have me doing these things, but I don’t have the acknowledgment or title. When I spoke up, that's when I got the position,” she reflected. She said that’s the biggest lesson she’s learned: “Nothing is going to get resolved unless you speak out about it. Not just here, but in life.”

In her tenure, she’s gotten married, experienced personal loss, and had her first grandchild. She has also ridden in our dumbwaiter, a small freight elevator that carries alterations to different floors. We laugh as she says she would never do that now, knowing how easily it breaks down.

Kathy (left) and current suit salesmen, Bill Boiling (right) at Boyds 2006 Holiday Party.

She said the store had changed quite a bit regarding renovations, management, and employees during her tenure. She misses working with Diane Diaz, Tom Deglasio, and Tom Staldon the most. Being here for many years means seeing many people come and go, but many customers stay loyal for years. Her favorite customers are Craig Gesum and John Derazio. When you see a customer often, you can build a nice friendship.

If you know Kathy, you know she’s the biggest Eagles fan. Kathy and the Eagles are practically synonymous, from the customer service area decorated in memorabilia to the Eagles jacket she wears every day to her fight song ringtone. So, it’s no surprise that some of her favorite memories here are meeting sports stars. From Jason Kelce to Mike Schmidt, Kathy named many Philadelphia sports stars she’s had the pleasure of meeting. Before the Superbowl, she gave Eagles’ safety, Syndey Brown, a tour of our decorated customer service wing. Safe to say, he was impressed, and Kathy was ecstatic.

Kathy advises all future Boyds employees to “Be true to yourself and treat customers how you'd like to be treated.”

Sergio Martins

Master Men’s Tailor, 26 years

Situated on the third floor, Sergio is the first person you see when it’s time to buy a suit. A tailor his whole life, Sergio moved from Portugal to the United States in 1988. When he came to Boyds for an interview, he immediately got the job as a tailor. When he started, he already had a family and decided to dedicate his life here to provide for them. Sergio dislikes changing jobs: “When I felt comfort here and everyone treated me good, I decided to stay.”

On the women’s floor is our head seamstress, Ana, who is also Sergio’s wife. He revealed she started working here a few years after him. Kenny, our CEO, decided to bring her into the mix, and Sergio said, “Alright, but keep me out of it if there’s trouble.” When I told Sergio they’re the Boyds power couple, he laughed and denied the claim, staying humble. But everyone knows they’re the dynamic duo.

Sergio and his wife, Ana, pictured in Boyds’ tailor shop.

An important lesson Sergio says he’s learned here is friendship. “So, who’s your best friend here? I won’t tell anybody,” I inquire. Sergio pauses to think, “The person who signs my checks.” “Ooooh, so Kenny’s your best friend?” I ask. “I believe so,” he replies as we burst out laughing. As you can see, Sergio does not play about his coin. But in all seriousness, Sergio says his favorite part of the job is treating people the right way and seeing them treat him the same. Over time, the clothing business changes, but a smile never leaves his face.

When anyone comes to the men’s floor to try on their alterations, the first person they ask for is Sergio. His hard work and craftsmanship are why he is revered as a master tailor. “I never expected to be able to do anything like this in alterations,” he confessed. “I never thought I could do it, but I did it.”

Joseph Crimaldi

Men’s Suits Salesmen, 42 years

Born and bred in South Philly, Joe Crimaldi is the go-to guy for any of your suiting needs. I have seen him sell suits to generations of families. Grandfathers tell their sons to shop with him and, down the line, tell their grandsons Crimaldi is still the guy to trust. He has sold suits to everyone: businessmen, lawyers, and sports stars, so I was surprised he almost didn’t make the cut to get a job here. “I was unemployed, and my future father-in-law knew someone in [the] union who set up an interview for me here. I got the job after 3 or 4 tries,” he recalled. I was shocked. Our top salesman almost didn’t make the cut? He told me they were very reluctant to hire new people, primarily because of how young he was at the time. He was hired only for a 2-month trial run and then officially joined the team. “My hire date says late November (because of the trial), but I really started in September,” he told me.

When Joe started in 1982, he recalled that the world was more formal. Everyone was wearing suits, ties, topcoats, and hats. He says that the overall business has changed the most since he started. “When I started in the business, it was a revolving door of people walking in who needed to buy formal clothing. Now, it's mostly for special events, fancy parties, weddings, or bat mitzvahs. The work attire is down to just lawyers who need to wear suits for work.”

Joe with current women’s sales associate, Ramonita Farnesi, at the Boyds 2006 Holiday Party.

Crimaldi described the business as ever-changing. He’s had many laughs and worked with a lot of people. His two favorites were his buddies Richy and Patrick, his coworkers, and his two good friends outside of work. His favorite customer is Matt Cook. “He appreciates what I do for him as far as the type of clothing I select and everything else. He's probably number 1,” he explained. His favorite part of the job is “meeting interesting people and seeing them appreciate what you do for them.”

When asked what big life moments had happened for him while at Boyd's, he recalled the three most significant years in his tenure: 1982, when he got hired, 1983 when he got married, and 1984, when he had his first child; those consecutive years played a big part in why he stayed. “The best thing to do for my family was to make this a career. At the time, when I started here, I was unemployed. Then I had gotten married, bought a house, had a mortgage, car payments and pregnant wife. I had to put my nose down and work hard.” That’s Joe’s advice to any future employees: work hard. “It's a demanding business these days but it's a business that requires a lot of follow-throughs. Stay focused, keep good notes, and stay in touch with your people.”

Deann

Women’s Customer Service, 21 years

Who’s the woman with bouncing blonde hair on the first floor? Oh, of course, it’s Deann. I consider Deann the bright light of the woman's floor. While she works hard, you can always hear her laughing at the front desk. Her beautiful hair is a product of her years passionately working in the hair business, which she ultimately left because of its inconsistency. This career switch led her to work for Budweiser, where she wore many hats. “I started in the money room. Back in the 80s, it was strictly cash only so I had to be bonded with the state and investigated,” she revealed. “They used to have tractor-trailers come in with sacks of cash. I would just sit in a room with surveillance and hand count all day.” It was a crazy job, but she was good at it. But Deann doesn’t like to be bored, so she moved into the office and went into sales. Her beauty and charm scored her two wins as she met her husband and was nominated for—and won—Ms. Budweiser.

Leaving the beer behind, Deann saw an ad for Boyds in the South Philadelphia review that only read “CALL” and a phone number that she can still recite to me by heart. She came in for an interview, and by the time she got home, there was a message on her answering machine saying she got the job and they needed her to come back today and start immediately. “Here I am 21 years later,” she chuckled. “Well, that was my next question. Do you remember your first day?” I asked. “Absolutely,” she responded, “and I remember what I was wearing and how much I weighed,” we both laughed.

When asked why she’s stayed so long, she said, “I accept them (Boyds) for who they are, and they accept me for who I am.” During Deann’s tenure, she lost her mother to COVID and raised her son, who has a rare disease. She says Boyds has been there through her hardships for the whole ordeal. “Other businesses might not be as concerned or caring. Other places might say, “Oh, I’m sorry, you need to leave.” If I need to start missing time, I don't need to worry about it here.”

Despite what she has been through, Deann has a wicked sense of humor. When asked about the craziest thing she’s seen here, she told me a story about catching two people getting it on in the fitting room years ago when there were only curtains for separation. But those are the type of stories you know you’ll get from Deann, shocking but hilarious. Her favorite memories here are the ones full of laughter with coworkers and customers. The freedom in the job is ultimately what's kept her here. “I can be involved in anything. It’s better for me mentally. It’s just good to do more.” If you ever stop in on the first floor, you can see Deann doing it all.

John Rowan

Credit Manager, 41 years

Like any credit manager, John has a stern exterior and only wears shades of black, grey, and navy. When I started, I thought he was a stone-cold guy, but once you get to know him, you crack jokes, gossip, and do anything unserious to pass the time. John’s time here has been interesting, as he worked for Boyds, left, returned, and never left.

He got the job through his high school friend, David, who said the store needed help during the holiday season. His holiday stint lasted two years until he left and started working for a bank. Four years later, he came back and joined the credit department. Coming back felt comfortable to John—he knew what he was doing and knew some familiar faces. “I was 22, and now I’m 63,” he remarked.

At Boyds, frequent customers can open a charge account. Instead of using cash or card, you make monthly payments to the store, which allows you to have an account balance. John is the one who oversees that. Some things we do may seem old-fashioned, but as the clothing business changes, Boyds evolves but stays true to its roots. John thinks the atmosphere has changed the most. “It’s more luxurious,” he explained. “We went from the building on Market to here on Chestnut. This place was renovated to make it one of the number 1 retailers in the country.” He looks fondly back on the memory of when they moved stores. “It was a big undertaking, and the whole store had to participate. It was all about teamwork,” he recalled.

John has experienced divorce, raising children, promotion, and serious illness all while working here. When asked why he’s stayed, he responded, “That is a good question! You always want to take care of your family. I had children and needed income, AND the people here were nice. When asked what his favorite memory is here, John pondered. “6 pm (when we close),” he replied. We burst out laughing. But in seriousness, he continued, “There are a lot of memories. There are a lot of laughs. I can’t pick a favorite.” That is what John said he enjoys most about the job: the people. And yes, John can talk circles around everybody, but we love laughing with him too.

As the sole figure in his department, John said accountability is the biggest lesson he has learned at Boyds. “You are responsible for what you do and don’t do,” he explained. His advice to future employees: “Work hard. Give 110%. Keep your nose clean.”

Brian Skyers

Men’s Shoe Salesmen, 52 years

If you’ve ever stepped foot into Boyds, you know who Brian is. He’s everyone's favorite. I consider Brian the company's overseer, as no one has worked here longer than him. Brian met our CEO, Kenny, when Kenny was only 14 and remembered when Kenny’s children were toddlers running around the store. Now they’re all grown up, and our bosses are as well.

Initially starting his career in New York City, Brian decided to move to Philly and work at a smaller retail store. While at work, another individual who also liked shoes often visited him. Thus, they chatted frequently. Brian saw the job opportunity for Boyds in the paper and went for an interview. To his surprise, the guy who’d come into his job was an employee at Boyds. Brian recalled, “I didn’t know what he did, but he was a familiar face. I was surprised when I saw him.” When Brian started in 1973, he wasn’t nervous like most folks because he already had a friend.

Brian decided he didn’t want to run all over the place, switching jobs, so he decided to make being a shoe salesman his living. “In order to develop, I had to stay in that one area. That was the best thing for me. Going up and down the place would be bad for me. I decided to work and develop a good clientele.” One of his favorite clients is Eric Lambert. “Yes, shoutout the reverend!” I responded. Brian continued, “He’s a nice person. He’s a good friend, like a brother.” Daniel Hillary was another. “He’s a good one too. Nice man with a good personality.” Lastly, Bill Gaines. “We’ve been going at it for years. These people who come to see me are people I enjoy working with, and they show appreciation. They come back to me.” That’s what Brian says he enjoys the most working here: the people who come in. “I can sit down and talk to them on another level about what's going on in the world or what they do,” he explained. “There’s so much we discuss besides basic business. I try to instill in people that I’m real. I'm not phony.”

Brothers Alex (left) and Andrew Gushner (middle) with their father, Kent Gushner (left).

In Brian’s fifty-two years here, he’s the one who's witnessed the most change. “I’ve been through all four generations, and each generation brought in something different,” he told me. Kenny’s father, Jerry, and uncle, Mark, brought in fresher things, like more Italian stuff from Europe. Kenny took over and put it to another level: new styles, higher prices, better goods. And I hope that Alex and Andrew (Kenny’s sons) take it to another level. Each generation should put something a little more and enhance the place.”

Since Brian has been here for so long, he remembers some things more than others. He remembers our coworker Ronny Condello as someone he misses dearly. “Ronny was the guy who you could talk to. He's jovial. He doesn’t get upset easily,” Brian said. I also had the pleasure of working with Ronny before he retired to help his wife open a bakery, The Sugary, on 251 S 21st Street. He was indeed as sweet as the treats his wife made. One thing Brian did not remember was a stunt I pulled 5 months into my employment. “Don’t you remember Halloween 2023?” I asked. “What? I don’t dress up for Halloween,” Brian said, confused. “No, Brian,” I said, “Remember when I came into work...dressed up as you!?” “OH!” Brian exclaimed. “I forgot all about that,” we chuckle. Everyone has a great laugh with Brian. I consider him my little work grandpa.

I also consider Brian the best person to learn from at Boyds about the company. He is an endless fountain of knowledge because of his time spent here. He advises future sales associates: “You’re not going to be 100% at the start. You must take it one day at a time. You must try to develop customers. You must get the maximum from each customer. Not just one item. Try to sell as much as you can. Don't be satisfied with just one sale. Try to maximize it.”

If you have time to shop and want to meet a wealth of characters, stop into our Philadelphia location. Of course, we’ll be waiting to say hi from 11 AM to 6 PM.

Boyds For Life