Meet Michael Druskin

There’s a generation of shoppers who don’t know there actually is a Len Druskin. Len still works the floor of his namesake shop seven days a week. He got his start in retail at Donaldson’s and Dayton’s in an era when they ruled Nicollet Mall. And in 1976 this married man with children opened a women’s ready-to-wear store at 50th & France. He eventually moved the boutique to Galleria.

Fourteen years ago, his son, Michael, joined the operation full-time and caused a bit of a stir. Len Druskin, the store, seemed a bit out of place at the time. It was more Uptown than upscale. The change in buying direction, or “different point of view,” as Michael says, was appealing to a younger segment than was the norm at tony Galleria. The store was cluttered. Clothes were packed in. There was almost a Canal Street vibe. It raised a few eyebrows. The store was taking risks and introducing new lines, new labels, new looks to Minneapolis. And it was working—big time.

Fashionistas wanted flirty blouses, curvy jackets, top-shelf denim, and sexy eveningwear as well as their career looks. The clientele spanned from young women to polished powerbrokers to country club moms. After a seven-year evolution, they added men’s clothes in 1999. The fashionista’s husbands and boyfriends—as well as fashion forward gay men—were also drawn to what Michael considers the “edgy, not overly funky” merchandise. (We have the Druskins to thank for introducing 7 For all Mankind, Trina Turk, Ousto . . . to the Twin Cities.) Then, in early 2005, they tripled their space—“we’re less of a boutique and more of a store”—and moved to the lower (gasp) level of Galleria. “Our customers love it,” says Michael. “An entrance is just steps away.”

Druskin and his assistant buyers travel to other cities for inspiration and observation, but they keep their fingers on the pulse of the local scene by attending high-profile events, checking out the people, what they are wearing—and perhaps logging away for future buying trips what they should be wearing.

We caught up with Michael between trips to Barcelona and New York, LA, and NYC to get the skinny: Len Druskin, the store: “Even with the changes, the culture and personality that Len created is a part of the fabric of the company. And our staff reflects our customers—we don’t want all of the same types. Our staff is made up of different ages and styles. The Fashion: “We purchase what we believe in—but we need to be embraced by the customer. So our merchandise needs to be relative. Overall, it’s fun and exciting, but functional and wearable—it makes people feel sexy and good about themselves.” The Customer: “She is confident and wants to feel good, look smart, and is not a particular age or size. She is stylish and modern. She is comfortable with herself. He is similar. Smart. Up-to-date. He wants something masculine and cool. He doesn’t want to look contrived.” Minneapolis: “The city is sophisticated. It’s an arts community. Very philanthropic—a highly educated group of people. Vendors can be surprised that things can be embraced here first. Our customers push us. Michael on Len: He’s like our concierge. He’s here almost every day. He’s always been stylish and fashion forward. Michael on Michael: I’m information obsessed. I soak up what I see—I’m always observing, reading, and aware of my surroundings. I’m very visual. It’s important to be a part of today’s world—clothing is part of everyone’s lifestyle. Fall Trends: The media will tell you that the ’80s are back. We’ll take the concept, interpret it, and not make it overly trendy.