The Three Centuries of Hillmer's
Hillmer's began in 1896 in Downtown Topeka, Kansas, as a harness shop owned by George Klein, Topeka 's premier harness maker.
In 1921 George and his son-in-law Ernest Hillmer opened a combined shop and retail store KLEIN-HILLMER LEATHER GOODS.
In 1933 Ernest purchased George's share of the business and expanded the store's many product lines.
In 1958 Ernest sold the business to his son Walter Klein Hillmer who again expanded the business to include leather outerwear.
In 1995 Walter Klein sold the store to his son and daughter-in-law Walter "Walt" Knox Hillmer and Joyce Gilpin Hillmer.
Hillmer's building is believed to have been built circa 1872. Its facade is restored to a beautiful late 1800's appearance and received the Historic Topeka Inc. Preservation Award. Its interior also is restored, featuring the building's original tin ceiling and dozens of appealing antiques from the store's intriguing past.
Hillmer's values are the same today as they were in 1896: To delight its customers with unmatched quality, innovation, selection, value, and knowledgeable, empathetic service.
However, Hillmer's products are "light years" ahead of anything George Klein or Ernest Hillmer ever dreamed about. In fact, they are "light years" ahead of similar products offered by most other stores in Kansas and throughout Mid-America.
Because of the unsurpassed trust Hillmer's has earned from its customers for four generations, it is the only luggage and leather store in America to have received its region's BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU Torch Award For Marketplace Ethics and also qualify as a finalist for the BBB International Award.
Hillmer's is a member of the TRAVEL GOODS ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL LUGGAGE REPAIR ASSOCIATION, KANSAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY, GREATER TOPEKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, and a founding member of NE KANSAS BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU and DOWNTOWN TOPEKA. INC.
©2008 Hillmer's Luggage, Leather & Gifts. All rights reserved.
