Sam Brateman was only 19 in 1919 when he and his brother Albert bought a retail store at 806 Barr Street and named it Brateman Bros. Clothing and Shoe Store. Sam remained active until the age of 93. The store was always located downtown. The store expanded and remained on Barr Street until it was relocated to Calhoun Street. In 1966, the Bratemans moved to the Main Street location where it remained until 1991.

Adolph joined his father in 1954 after working part-time as a youngster after school. Today the third generation, Paul and Michael, work along side their mother Adrienne and their father Adolph in the business.

The store has always carried men's work clothes and shoes. In earlier days, women's and children's shoes were also sold. Sam Brateman said the store was the first retail outlet east of the Mississippi to carry Levi's. The store was and remains to be a major outlet for police, fire, postal, and security uniforms.

The Bratemans say their business has endured because "we're honest, we take care of our customers and we're willing to help.  There's nobody like us, and we're not like anyone else."


The store became Brateman's Inc. in 1991 and moved to its present location on Coldwater Road. Today, we at Brateman's haven't changed except now we're on the move to serve you better into the future. Thank you for visiting us at our new location on the World Wide Web.


      - Mike E. Brateman