Rodes-Rapier

Rodes-Rapier is a fine men’s clothing store originally located in the Starks Building on 4th St in Louisville KY. Founded in 1914 by John Price Starks, William Rapier and John Starks Rodes as the Starks Company, they had to change the name to Rodes-Rapier due to legal complications and a lawsuit by the existing menswear business Crutcher & Starks. Rodes-Rapier occupied two floors downtown in the Starks Building, with an extensive choice of business, sport and dress attire. The name was changed on some store advertising to Rodes upon the retirement of William Rapier. As late as 1951, the company used both Rodes and Rodes-Rapier in an ad for Swank cufflinks. Local ownership continued until 1983. Rodes added women’s wear by the 1990s. Additional Rodes locations included Oxmoor Mall in St. Matthews which closed in 2003 and stores in Tennessee and Indiana. The main location moved in 2003 from 4th St. to Brownsboro Rd. in Louisville. Vintage lines carried, among many others: Hickey-Freeman, Hart Schaffner & Marx, Palm Beach, Burberrys, After Six. Now known as Rodes For Him / For Her and still in business in 2023 at the Rodes Building, Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY.

Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1918 Rodes-Rapier ad

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1940s cut-away suit

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1950-dated suit

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans

from a 1950s Palm Beach dinner jacket

Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins=Evans