Jeff Covitz, the proprietor of Houndstooth, opened his next site in Leawood.
Jeff Covitz
Houndstooth, a men’s clothing store that first opened in the River Market, is bringing its suits and swatches to Leawood.
The store’s second location, at 4250 W. 119th St., opened quietly in May, but owner Jeff Covitz promised customers he’s planning a grand opening celebration sometime in August.
Houndstooth sells high-end, ready-to-wear suits and coats as well as custom formal attire. Its suits are made from organic fabrics — wool, cashmere, silk and linen — and price around $600 to $800. Custom two-piece suit prices start at $1,250, and fitting appointments can be made online at houndstoothkc.com.
In addition to fancier garments, Houndstooth offers more casual shirts and jackets.
A third-generation tailor, Covitz grew up around hemming and stitching. His grandfather, Leo Zemelman, immigrated to the U.S. from Poland and ran Leo’s Tailor Shop at 60th and Oak streets from 1952 to 1999.
In 1978, Covitz’s father, Rick Covitz, opened Rick’s Tailoring & Menswear in Overland Park, which the younger Covitz took over in 2011 after his father died.
Separately, Covitz opened Houndstooth in 2014 at 507 Walnut St., hoping to attract a younger clientele than his father’s store did. Covitz closed Rick’s Tailoring that same year to focus on his budding business.
Now, Covitz is returning to Johnson County with his new Camelot Court location.
“We just have a lot of customers out in this direction who don’t make it downtown very often,” he said. “I think we have a very loyal customer base.”
Expanding Houndstooth was never at the top of Covitz’s to-do list, but when the storefront opened up he decided to take a leap.
The new shop, formerly Glitters Fine Jewelry, has been renovated “top to bottom” to echo his first location’s modern feel, with white walls and brass railing.
Covitz doesn’t want to expand far beyond Kansas City, he said. He’d rather keep the business local and connect with customers, much like his father and grandfather. But he’s eager to meet more Johnson Countians.
“It’s already been a very good start,” Covitz said.
Houndstooth is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
This story was initially released July 12, 2023, 3:01 PM.
Jenna Thompson addresses breaking news for The Kansas Town Star. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, she earlier claimed for the Lincoln Journal Star and graduated from the College of Nebraska-Lincoln, exactly where she analyzed journalism and English.
