In 1983, Joseph Masri – originally from Argentina – and two of his sons opened a clothing store at the historic corner of Grand and Orchard Streets on the Lower East Side. And although the neighborhood was known far and wide as ‘The Jewish Bargain District’, Joseph (Jo), David (Da) and Moshe (Mo) instead chose to focus on men’s high-end fashions at near-wholesale prices.
With three floors of designer clothing that ranged from tuxedos and hand-stitched suits to shoes and sportswear, Jodamo International quickly became what one fashion journal called “the best-kept secret in New York City.” Our clientele grew to include Mayors, Governors, foreign dignitaries, CEOs, and celebrities from the worlds of movies, television, music and sports. But the heart and soul of our store remained in families: Customers who brought their sons for their first well-made business suit, then seeing those young men return with their fiancées for a wedding suit, and who will one day bring their sons for their first business suit. Loyalty, like tradition, can span generations.