Kroch's and Brentano's T-Shirt
Celebrate a landmark chapter in Chicago's bookstore story. Kroch's and Brentano's formed in 1954, joining Adolph Kroch's book business with the city's Brentano's branch and opening a flagship at 29 South Wabash Avenue. From Kroch's first Monroe Street shop in 1907 to a regional chain of 22 stores, the name became part of generations of reading and city life. This shirt is made for collectors, former customers, and anyone drawn to independent bookselling history.
Kroch's and Brentano's was formed in Chicago in 1954 by combining Adolph Kroch's bookstore with the Chicago branch of Brentano's. Kroch, an Austrian immigrant, opened a German-language bookstore on Monroe Street in 1907, later switching to English-language books during World War I. His business moved to 22 N. Michigan and, in 1927, to 206 N. Michigan Avenue, where it became Chicago's largest bookstore before closing there in 1953. Brentano's Chicago branch dated to 1884, when Arthur Brentano opened it at 101 State Street. After Brentano's filed for bankruptcy in 1933, Kroch and financier Stanton Griffis acquired the firm; Kroch received the Chicago branch and rights to the Brentano's name in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Kroch operated the two bookstores separately until the 1954 merger, which created a 40,000-square-foot flagship at 29 S. Wabash Avenue. At its peak, the chain had 22 stores in the Chicago metropolitan area. Carl Kroch sold it to its 700 employees in 1986; after financial difficulties, it was resold to Businesship International. The company filed for bankruptcy in June 1995 and was liquidated. Its remaining stores closed on July 31, 1995.
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
| Width, in | 16.50 | 18.00 | 20.00 | 22.00 | 24.00 | 26.00 | 28.00 | 30.00 | 32.00 |
| Length, in | 27.00 | 28.00 | 29.00 | 30.00 | 31.00 | 32.00 | 33.00 | 34.00 | 35.00 |
| Sleeve length, in | 8.60 | 8.90 | 9.20 | 9.50 | 9.70 | 10.00 | 10.40 | 10.80 | 11.20 |
| Size tolerance, in | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 |
Product features
- 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton (lightweight 4.2 oz/yd²) for a soft, breathable feel
- Retail fit with crew neckline — neat, easy to layer
- Structural details: side seams, shoulder tape, and ribbed knit collar to retain shape
- Labeling and prints: tear-away label; DTF or DTG printing used for crisp chest and sleeve designs
- Ethically made blanks (Fair Labor Association, Platinum WRAP), REACH certified
Care instructions
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Iron, steam or dry: medium heat
- Do not dryclean
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Bella+Canvas 3001, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Warnings, Hazard: For adults, Blank product sourced from Honduras
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Iron, steam or dry: medium heat, Do not dryclean