In 2009, Steve Shuck and Don Weir were pissed off. The scarcity of menswear stores in Austin was at an all time low, and the pair struggled to identify any single destination that provided all manner of man stuff – accessories, gadgets, grooming, etcetera. Fortunately, their disgruntlement led to the birth of STAG, a modern-day general store/haven for men stocking everything from John Derian prints to vintage Lee jackets and Hammerpress stationery.
The Manual caught up with them one windy Thursday evening to talk essential provisions for the modern gentleman and weekend plans.
When did you open the store?
The store opened in December 2009.
From where did the General Store for men concept originate?
When we were thinking about the store, we recognized that Austin was riddled with loads of shops and boutiques aimed at women, but very few catering to men. The few men’s stores that existed either sat side by side with a women’s boutique (and felt like an afterthought) or were very small with little selection. We really set out to create a space exclusively for men, with an assortment of goods that met many of his needs in one place – apparel, accessories, furniture, grooming, design, music, art, gifts, and more.
What is your definition of a modern gentleman?
For us, he’s a guy that cares about classic style over current fashion. He’s confident in himself and his taste, yet open minded to new thoughts and ideas. He values quality and tradition, but is not beholden to old ways. He’s intellectually curious, and thinks about the world outside of his immediate view.
What’s on your radar for summer?
We’ve stocked the store with modern spins on classic menswear styles and fabrics for summer. You’ll find a strong selection of madras, seersucker, gingham, and other lightweight cotton favorites in everything from short sleeved camp shirts and Bermuda length shorts to more tailored suits and vests. There’s also a lot of nautical influence this summer, lots of indigos and stripes, that’s more merchant marine than Nantucket. And, as Austin temperatures will be in the triple digits soon, a great swimsuit from Saturdays or Katin and a beach towel from the Hudson Bay Company to hit Barton Springs (a natural spring-fed pool in town) along with a cooler of cold beer are a must.
You talk about selecting products with ‘authentic, red-blooded style’ what do you mean by this?
We mean classic items with an American point of view that can stand the test of time in both style and wear & tear. We want our guy to feel good about investing in quality workmanship and special details over trends and embellishments. We try to only select items for the shop that can be in his closet for years to come.
Thanks for the chat! Do you have any exciting plans this weekend?
There’s a big Grand Prix motorcycle race in town that several friends are going to, but we need to take down the 18′ Sioux tipi that’s in our back yard. It’s an amazing place to hang out with friends in the winter and spring, but absolutely brutal in the summer.
