SCHENECTADY — Peter Musler can almost certainly tell a woman’s style by talking to her.
It’s a knack he’s picked up in the around 50 years he’s spent operating his family’s clothing store Musler’s on Union Street.
Peter Musler’s grandfather Jules Musler first opened the women’s clothing store inside Proctors Theater a month before the theater opened.
The business would stay at that location until 1991 when the family moved the business to 1740 Union St. and then later to its current spot at 1726 Union St. in 2004.
Ownership of the store moved down the family line from Jules Musler to his son Jay Musler and eventually to Peter Musler.
Our look at Capital Region businesses and the locals who run them. New features every Monday from our Shenandoah Briere.
Peter Musler said he’s not sure why his grandfather ever opened the store, but said he always wanted to go into the family business.
“It’s what I was exposed to,” he said.
Peter Musler had originally intended to work at one of the large retail stores like Bloomingdales after graduating from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, now Philadelphia University, for at least a year before returning home. That didn’t go as planned.
“I ended working for a chain of record stores, which I loved and I got a great musical education but I got burned out from it and I ended up going home after two or three years in the mid-70s,” he said.
Upon returning home he worked alongside his father.
“Working with family is a different dynamic, it’s interesting,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I was fired and how many times I quit over the years but it worked out.”
He said what made it worth it all over the years was he liked what he did. Over the years Peter Musler has been able to help women, primarily those who are 40 and older, find pieces they love.
“I buy things with my customers in mind,” he said. “I don’t carry trendy, I carry unique. If people want to buy a trend they don’t need me for that, they can go to a Target or department store or buy it inexpensively because if it’s a flop they’re not out a lot of money and unique clothing will always stand the test of time. The uniqueness will make it such.”
He does that by getting to know his customers.
“When somebody new comes in I like to talk to them just to see what they’re about and I can get a vibe from people and just to get an idea of what looks good on people,” he said.
He said one of the very well known brands they carry is Habitat Clothes.
It hasn’t always been easy for the business though.
Like many businesses, Musler’s took a hit from having to close for a few months during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said there were no events or occasions happening where people would wear the clothes they buy from the store. Things are still just starting to normalize for him.
The retail store is also unique in that it deals directly with manufacturers because that doesn’t really happen anymore.
Musler said he’s likely the last of the family to operate the shop, as his son lives in Florida. However, he said he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“I still enjoy it,” he said.
SCHENECTADY — Peter Musler can almost certainly tell a woman’s style by talking to her.
It’s a knack he’s picked up in the around 50 years he’s spent operating his family’s clothing store Musler’s on Union Street.
Peter Musler’s grandfather Jules Musler first opened the women’s clothing store inside Proctors Theater a month before the theater opened.
The business would stay at that location until 1991 when the family moved the business to 1740 Union St. and then later to its current spot at 1726 Union St. in 2004.
Ownership of the store moved down the family line from Jules Musler to his son Jay Musler and eventually to Peter Musler.
Our look at Capital Region businesses and the locals who run them. New features every Monday from our Shenandoah Briere.
Peter Musler said he’s not sure why his grandfather ever opened the store, but said he always wanted to go into the family business.
“It’s what I was exposed to,” he said.
Peter Musler had originally intended to work at one of the large retail stores like Bloomingdales after graduating from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, now Philadelphia University, for at least a year before returning home. That didn’t go as planned.
“I ended working for a chain of record stores, which I loved and I got a great musical education but I got burned out from it and I ended up going home after two or three years in the mid-70s,” he said.
Upon returning home he worked alongside his father.
“Working with family is a different dynamic, it’s interesting,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I was fired and how many times I quit over the years but it worked out.”
He said what made it worth it all over the years was he liked what he did. Over the years Peter Musler has been able to help women, primarily those who are 40 and older, find pieces they love.
“I buy things with my customers in mind,” he said. “I don’t carry trendy, I carry unique. If people want to buy a trend they don’t need me for that, they can go to a Target or department store or buy it inexpensively because if it’s a flop they’re not out a lot of money and unique clothing will always stand the test of time. The uniqueness will make it such.”
He does that by getting to know his customers.
“When somebody new comes in I like to talk to them just to see what they’re about and I can get a vibe from people and just to get an idea of what looks good on people,” he said.
He said one of the very well known brands they carry is Habitat Clothes.
It hasn’t always been easy for the business though.
Like many businesses, Musler’s took a hit from having to close for a few months during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said there were no events or occasions happening where people would wear the clothes they buy from the store. Things are still just starting to normalize for him.
The retail store is also unique in that it deals directly with manufacturers because that doesn’t really happen anymore.
Musler said he’s likely the last of the family to operate the shop, as his son lives in Florida. However, he said he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“I still enjoy it,” he said.
SCHENECTADY — Peter Musler can almost certainly tell a woman’s style by talking to her.
It’s a knack he’s picked up in the around 50 years he’s spent operating his family’s clothing store Musler’s on Union Street.
Peter Musler’s grandfather Jules Musler first opened the women’s clothing store inside Proctors Theater a month before the theater opened.
The business would stay at that location until 1991 when the family moved the business to 1740 Union St. and then later to its current spot at 1726 Union St. in 2004.
Ownership of the store moved down the family line from Jules Musler to his son Jay Musler and eventually to Peter Musler.
Our look at Capital Region businesses and the locals who run them. New features every Monday from our Shenandoah Briere.
Peter Musler said he’s not sure why his grandfather ever opened the store, but said he always wanted to go into the family business.
“It’s what I was exposed to,” he said.
Peter Musler had originally intended to work at one of the large retail stores like Bloomingdales after graduating from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, now Philadelphia University, for at least a year before returning home. That didn’t go as planned.
“I ended working for a chain of record stores, which I loved and I got a great musical education but I got burned out from it and I ended up going home after two or three years in the mid-70s,” he said.
Upon returning home he worked alongside his father.
“Working with family is a different dynamic, it’s interesting,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I was fired and how many times I quit over the years but it worked out.”
He said what made it worth it all over the years was he liked what he did. Over the years Peter Musler has been able to help women, primarily those who are 40 and older, find pieces they love.
“I buy things with my customers in mind,” he said. “I don’t carry trendy, I carry unique. If people want to buy a trend they don’t need me for that, they can go to a Target or department store or buy it inexpensively because if it’s a flop they’re not out a lot of money and unique clothing will always stand the test of time. The uniqueness will make it such.”
He does that by getting to know his customers.
“When somebody new comes in I like to talk to them just to see what they’re about and I can get a vibe from people and just to get an idea of what looks good on people,” he said.
He said one of the very well known brands they carry is Habitat Clothes.
It hasn’t always been easy for the business though.
Like many businesses, Musler’s took a hit from having to close for a few months during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said there were no events or occasions happening where people would wear the clothes they buy from the store. Things are still just starting to normalize for him.
The retail store is also unique in that it deals directly with manufacturers because that doesn’t really happen anymore.
Musler said he’s likely the last of the family to operate the shop, as his son lives in Florida. However, he said he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“I still enjoy it,” he said.
SCHENECTADY — Peter Musler can almost certainly tell a woman’s style by talking to her.
It’s a knack he’s picked up in the around 50 years he’s spent operating his family’s clothing store Musler’s on Union Street.
Peter Musler’s grandfather Jules Musler first opened the women’s clothing store inside Proctors Theater a month before the theater opened.
The business would stay at that location until 1991 when the family moved the business to 1740 Union St. and then later to its current spot at 1726 Union St. in 2004.
Ownership of the store moved down the family line from Jules Musler to his son Jay Musler and eventually to Peter Musler.
Our look at Capital Region businesses and the locals who run them. New features every Monday from our Shenandoah Briere.
Peter Musler said he’s not sure why his grandfather ever opened the store, but said he always wanted to go into the family business.
“It’s what I was exposed to,” he said.
Peter Musler had originally intended to work at one of the large retail stores like Bloomingdales after graduating from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, now Philadelphia University, for at least a year before returning home. That didn’t go as planned.
“I ended working for a chain of record stores, which I loved and I got a great musical education but I got burned out from it and I ended up going home after two or three years in the mid-70s,” he said.
Upon returning home he worked alongside his father.
“Working with family is a different dynamic, it’s interesting,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I was fired and how many times I quit over the years but it worked out.”
He said what made it worth it all over the years was he liked what he did. Over the years Peter Musler has been able to help women, primarily those who are 40 and older, find pieces they love.
“I buy things with my customers in mind,” he said. “I don’t carry trendy, I carry unique. If people want to buy a trend they don’t need me for that, they can go to a Target or department store or buy it inexpensively because if it’s a flop they’re not out a lot of money and unique clothing will always stand the test of time. The uniqueness will make it such.”
He does that by getting to know his customers.
“When somebody new comes in I like to talk to them just to see what they’re about and I can get a vibe from people and just to get an idea of what looks good on people,” he said.
He said one of the very well known brands they carry is Habitat Clothes.
It hasn’t always been easy for the business though.
Like many businesses, Musler’s took a hit from having to close for a few months during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said there were no events or occasions happening where people would wear the clothes they buy from the store. Things are still just starting to normalize for him.
The retail store is also unique in that it deals directly with manufacturers because that doesn’t really happen anymore.
Musler said he’s likely the last of the family to operate the shop, as his son lives in Florida. However, he said he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“I still enjoy it,” he said.
