Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Rippe.
Sam, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
See below the “History” and “About Us” section of our website. Of course this can be condensed and adjusted. This gives a good overview of our history and how we got to where we are now.
Following his service in the Spanish American War, Benjamin A. Rippe, a native New Yorker seeking his fortune in the reviving South, established with wife Annie the original Rippe’s Store in Danville, Virginia, in 1907.
Annie Allen was the daughter of a retail merchant in Hillsborough, NC, and the sister of a successful milliner in the town of Roxboro, NC, only 35 miles away.
They selected nearby Danville, Virginia, to begin their retail business. Danville was the center of the vast Piedmont geographical region, so suitable for farming the “Wondrous Gold Leaf Tobacco.” The city became the largest tobacco market in the world. Growers brought cured leaf there for sale in the numerous tobacco auction warehouses. Danville was also home of one of America’s largest cotton mills—Dan River Mills.
Benjamin selected a store location in the heart of the warehouse district. It was in the era of the “Gibson Girl” fashion. Ladies apparel sales were brisk in neck high shirtwaists, floor length skirts underpinned with frilly petticoats, and the all-important fashion accent Ben and Annie knew about from her sister, Ida—the hat. The hat Rippe’s sold was priced up to $200 and sales were brisk.
The outfit was completed by the waist circling corselet, pointed toe, high-top lace-up shoes and the parasol—often to carry if not to inflate. Large volume was also done in piece goods by the yard for home sewing—plus items such as ribbon, buttons, and lace trims.
Three GenerationsAbout 1919, business began a migration away from warehouses to “Uptown Main
Street.” Rippe’s relocated there, this time with strictly apparel and accessories—no piece goods since the population was more sophisticated and affluent. Other uptown moves ensued to larger quarters.
Benjamin died in 1934, leaving the operation to his wife. Their son, Murray Rippe, joined his mother at Rippe’s after college graduation, but soon left to fight in WWII. After the war, he rejoined his mother, building in 1947 a modern, new-from-the-ground-up store. It created much excitement in the city and volume grew rapidly.
By 1965, an adjoining downtown building was acquired and incorporated as one, now providing almost 10,000 square feet. In 1978, Murray’s son Ben, following a career in Agronomy and Agricultural Economics, joined Rippe’s. To help further the business, Ben obtained an MBA at Duke University’s Fuqua School in 1987 while managing Rippe’s. In 1992, Murray and wife Esther sold all stock to Ben, completing the transition to a third generation.
Commencing Rippe’s 100th year, Ben opened Rippe’s Shoes in the adjoining building, with a lovely passageway between the two stores. The flowing art deco design of the new store makes shopping even more fun.
An upgrade to the storefront in late 2008 not only gave it a fresh, clean look, but also restored it to a more historically-correct appearance. The prominent 1970’s-era shadowbox feature in the display windows was removed to reveal a cleaner, more open display window typical of many 1950’s retail establishments. The terrazzo tile bulkhead and entry accent were also refurbished.
A décor renovation designed by Dewberry and interior design team leader Dodie Hudson followed in 2011. Key features included a Tuscan tile–themed walkway, new flooring, fixtures, furnishings and shadow box displays with design elements incorporated from the exterior window enhancement. Other renovations and improvements followed over the next 15 years.
In 2017, a fourth generation joined the business. Sam Rippe chose to return to Danville and carry on his family’s legacy after graduating from Virginia Tech with degrees in Business Management and History. He currently serves as General Manager and Buyer for Rippe’s.
Today, Rippe’s carries on a proud tradition of bringing the very best in women’s fashion to the Dan River Region, and across the country and around the world through their online store. They search the world’s fashion markets for well-made apparel, outerwear, shoes, and accessories at the best values representing each quality level. Many collections are exclusive to the Danville area. Their knowledgeable associates condense the thousands of choices with no pressure applied, and are available to advise and guide over the phone as well
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Over 119 years in business there have naturally been peaks and valleys, but a commitment to quality merchandise and extraordinary customer service has kept us going. In my nine year career so far, the pandemic was obviously a major hurdle. We were able to pivot online with our brand-new (at the time) e-commerce store, but it was still an enormous struggle and it took quite some time to adjust to the “new normal”. However, in some ways it made us stronger and our business sharper.
As you know, we’re big fans of Rippe’s. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We specialize in better and designer women’s apparel, shoes, coats, furs, and accessories, but our true focus is customer service. Our award-winning team of associates understands fashion and fit, and we build relationships with our clients that allow us to go above and beyond to serve their needs.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We’re excited about Danville’s ongoing renaissance and look forward to what the future holds.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rippes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rippesfashion
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippesfashion
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/rippesfashion
