Cable Car Clothiers San Francisco

 

We have long been recognized as the destination for men who seek fine clothing and accessories, crafted with care and good taste, and made of the finest quality.

Family Owned & Operated for Over 75 Years

https://cablecarclothiers.com/history/

 

Cable Car Clothiers, named after the cable car line on Powell and O’Farrell Streets, was founded in 1946 in San Francisco by Charlie Pivnick as a war surplus store called Vet’s Mercantile. In 1954, as military surplus sources dried up and the store began to focus more on traditional, British-style clothing, it was renamed Cable Car Clothiers.

 

After 1970, Cable Car Clothiers became known for its quarterly mail order catalog, which eventually reached a circulation of 2 million and helped to make the store a tourist destination.

 

In 1972, Pivnick purchased and incorporated Robert Kirk, a San Francisco retailer founded in 1939 and also known for a focus on traditional, British-style clothing, thus allowing itself the motto “San Francisco’s British Goods Store Since 1939.” The flagship store was established at 150 Post Street and thrived in conjunction with a booming catalog and mail order business.

 

In the early 1980s, Cable Car Clothiers was located mid-block on Sutter Street, in the Union Square area. Looking to expand its men’s and women’s departments, the company moved to what is presently the Emporio Armani building, a wonderful Greek Revival banking temple, located at One Grant Avenue.

 

After two smaller shop locations in the Financial District, the company moved to their location at 200 Bush Street, on the prominent corner of Sansome Street.

 

Finally, in late 2012, Cable Car Clothiers moved back to its roots on Sutter Street and opened an in-house 1930s-style Barber Shop to complement its selection of fine men’s clothing, hats and caps, and other men’s accessories, grooming and lifestyle products.

About Us

Cable Car Clothiers is the oldest men’s retailer in San Francisco, but its classic style and determination to help gentlemen stay fashionable has allowed it to remain a San Francisco institution for generations.

The Total Fashion Experience

Clothing

Cable Car Clothiers specializes in the total fashion experience for the gentleman, carrying everything in a man’s wardrobe – clothing, slippers, accessories, hats and caps, and other lifestyle products. We sell both traditional brands rich in British history and modern, fashion forward brands. Our hats and caps department has hundreds of hats, including hats exclusively handmade for Cable Car Clothiers.

 

Apothecary

Our apothecary is stocked with all the essentials a man needs to stay fresh and well groomed. We sell fragrances, grooming tools, shaving, hair and body care products.

 

Barber Shop

We have a 1930s-style, in-store barbershop, offering a truly unique experience in shaving and barber services. Our shop is a veritable museum of vintage barber tools, chairs, and hair tonics. The grooming experience takes you back in time to a more stylish and genteel era.

 

Cable Car Clothiers is San Francisco’s oldest men’s clothing retailer and a celebrated city institution, famous for specializing in traditional, high-end British-style menswear and Ivy League style.

Overview & History

• Establishment: Founded in 1946 by Charlie Pivnick, it originally began as a war surplus store called Vet's Mercantile.
• Evolution: By the 1950s, it pivoted to traditional menswear. In 1972, the business acquired Robert Kirk Ltd., absorbing its heritage and adopting the famous motto: "San Francisco's British Goods Store Since 1939."
• The Catalog Era: Starting in 1970, it pioneered a massive quarterly mail-order catalog business that reached over 2 million households nationwide, turning the store into a prime tourist destination. It was even featured as a premier shopping location in The Official Preppy Handbook (1980).

Offering & Aesthetic

The store operates like a classic, exclusive English gentleman’s club. It focuses on premium, timeless fashion rather than modern fast-fashion trends:

• Clothing: Known for natural-shoulder suits, Oxford dress shirts, luxury trousers, and sports coats.
• Hats: Features a massive selection of hats, including Borsalino fedoras, Panama hats, newsboy caps, and classic British headwear.
• Heritage Brands: Stocks reputable global brands such as Barbour, Baracuta, Gloverall, Gitman Bros., and Jamieson's of Shetland.
• In-House Barbershop: Features an authentic, 1930s-style barbershop where clients can get classic haircuts and straight-razor shaves by appointment.

Store Details

The shop is currently located inside the historic French-American Bank Building in San Francisco's Financial District.

• Address: 110 Sutter Street, Suite 108, San Francisco, CA 94104
• Phone: (415) 397-4740
• Official Website: Cable Car Clothiers Official Site
• Hours: Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed Sundays). Note: Shopping and barbershop services may require an appointment.

Are you looking to buy a specific item online, or are you planning a visit to the physical store in San Francisco? Let me know if you need help with product availability or booking a barber appointment.

 

By Matthew Longcore, Ph.D.

 

May14, 2026

https://cablecarclothiers.com/30760-2/

 

Cable Car Clothiers in San Francisco was founded in 1946. The store is an Ivy Style and Anglophile haberdashery, focused on traditional, British-style clothing.

 

After 1970, Cable Car Clothiers became known for its quarterly mail order catalog, which eventually reached a circulation of 2 million and helped to make the store a tourist destination. The store was mentioned in The Official Preppy Handbook, published in 1980.

 

The store’s motto is “San Francisco’s British Goods Store Since 1939.” In 2012, Cable Car Clothiers moved back to its roots on Sutter Street and opened an in-house 1930s-style Barber Shop to complement its selection of fine men’s clothing, hats and caps, and other men’s accessories, grooming and lifestyle products.

 

Posted on ivy_style_com