First men’s clothing store in The Shoppes at Blu Water Creek opens

Starting a business is never easy, but it’s a different kind of feat opening the doors for the first time during a global pandemic. The COVID-19 hurdles didn’t halt Holly Kraft, the owner of the newly opened men’s clothing store in south Fargo, DRUTHERS.

DRUTHERS, the first men’s clothing store at The Shoppes at Blu Water Creek, was originally slated to open late March but was stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kraft officially welcomed customers into the store — which carries everyday, casual, lifestyle clothing with a focus on style, fit, soft fabrics and sustainability — for the first time Monday, May 4.

“I have my inventory ready to go, the store looks beautiful,” Kraft said. “I wanted to share that with all of my customers. I want Fargo to experience it when they're ready and when they feel like it's safe to come out. We’re here when they do.”

DRUTHERS, located in the BLU 32 building, carries a lot of brands that aren’t seen everywhere in Fargo at a lot of moderate price points that will serve a broader audience, Kraft said. The clothing has a multi-generational appeal that would attract high schoolers to those in their mid-60s, she added.

The store carries sizes small to 2X in its tops, and bottoms in waist sizes from 28 to 40 inches. A lot of the products focus on sustainability, recycled fabrics and being eco-friendly.

Kraft felt there was an opportunity to offer the Fargo-Moorhead community a new place to shop for men’s clothing. It’s been some time since a store in the area has offered these types of “everyday” styles for men in a small, locally owned atmosphere, Kraft said.

“There really is a hole in Fargo for a men’s boutique like this,” she said. “So that drove me to, OK, I have experience in men's clothing, I have experience in buying men's clothing and selling it, and we don't have anything like it in Fargo right now.”

Kraft, who previously worked at Straus Clothing in downtown Fargo, knows a thing or two about the space.

“I love the boutique atmosphere. I really do love men’s fashion,” she said.

After the delayed opening, DRUTHERS is open and operating under its regular business hours with a great deal of safety measures in place.

The store’s grand opening event has been postponed, and will be delayed until it’s safe to do so, Kraft said.

Customers can also shop online at druthersfargo.com and can have orders shipped or picked up in store or curbside. Phone orders for pick up are also welcomed.