Kroch's and Brentano's Youth Hoodie / Sweatshirt
Celebrate Chicago's bookstore heritage with a tribute to Kroch's and Brentano's. Founded through a 1954 merger, the company brought together Adolph Kroch's long-running book business and Brentano's Chicago branch. Its flagship at 29 South Wabash Avenue and its later network of 22 stores made the name familiar to readers throughout the region. This youth sweatshirt is for young readers, Chicago families, and anyone who wants to share the story of a memorable local bookselling institution.
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.
| S | M | L | XL | |
| Width, in | 16.93 | 18.11 | 18.90 | 20.08 |
| Length, in | 21.26 | 22.44 | 24.02 | 25.59 |
| Sleeve length (from center back), in | 26.50 | 27.76 | 30.24 | 32.99 |
| Size tolerance, in | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Product features
- 50/50 cotton-poly midweight fleece (8 oz/yd²) — durable, smooth fabric for lasting prints
- Twill necktape and sewn-in label for added comfort and stability
- Kangaroo pouch pocket for warmth and convenient storage
- Embroidery available on left or center chest; DTF wrist prints with DTG body printing
- Meets children’s safety and compliance standards; runs true to size
Care instructions
- Machine wash: warm (max 40C or 105F)
- Bleach as needed
- Tumble dry: medium heat
- Do not dry clean
- Do not iron
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Gildan 18500B, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Warnings, Hazard: For children, Made in Honduras
Care instructions: Machine wash: warm (max 40C or 105F), Bleach as needed, Tumble dry: medium heat, Do not iron, Do not dry clean