(Updated with apology) Dirk-Jan Stoppelenburg delivered what he considered a hilarious punch line: New Haven.
Stoppelenburg told the joke, and cracked himself up, while speaking recently to the India Times newspaper in Delhi.
He was talking about the city that gave his company its start, little old New Haven, Connecticut. The city that had 500 workers making shirts here before Gant moved the jobs overseas in 1979. The city in which Gant plopped a downtown storefront in late 2010 in a quest to pick up some extra retail sales by cashing in on its long-gone local history.
LinkedIn Photo
Here’s what the 44-year-old “Dutchman king of casual cool” (pictured) told the India Times in this June 27 article, which reported that he “lords” over 600 stores like New Haven’s worldwide:
“In the 1940s, when GANT started, the Ivy League colleges on the East Coast is where this look started and GANT was a shirt-maker established in New Haven.
“Only two things ever came out of New Haven — Yale University and GANT, in that order (laughs). So the first people who wore GANT shirts ever were Yale students. It’s nice to tell this story to the world. We went back to Yale (in November 2011) [sic], and they gave us a beautiful location on campus where we were allowed to have a store.”
The joke may have amused Stoppelenburg. It didn’t amuse Hill Alderwoman and Democratic Town Chairwoman Jackie James.
“Oh my god. That is absolutely horrible,” James said upon hearing of Stoppelenburg’s remark. “I don’t think anybody should buy any clothing from Gant. If that’s how he feels about our city and the great people of this great city, then we should not spend a dime — not a student, not a resident — spend another dime in that store. I’m personally asking him to leave.
“And I actually like his clothes. [But] he doesn’t have to worry about me buying a gift out of there for anyone.”
Friday afternoon, after this story originally appeared, Stoppelenburg issued an apology via the Independent. It begins:
“New Haven is a great city with a rich and longstanding history that extends far beyond Yale and our company heritage. I am deeply sorry that my recent comment to the India Times suggested otherwise. It was an unthinking comment, said in good humor, which in hindsight disparaged the people of New Haven and the local legacy that we hold dear. I am deeply sorry.”
The letter states that “the GANT brand is what it is today because of the people that have worked for our company throughout the years.” It closes with this request: “Please accept my sincerest apology.” Click here to read the full statement.
The CEO’s humor fell flat among New Haveners interviewed Thursday while walking by his store at the corner of York Street and Broadway.
Some had never noticed the store before despite having walked by it countless times. None had ever ventured inside, let alone bought anything.
They all said the CEO doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to the Elm City.
Click on the play arrow at the top of the story to watch some of their reactions.
“He’s from Europe so he doesn’t know. He’s uninformed,” said one woman waiting for the bus a few feet away from the store. “He needs to be educated.”
Paul Bass Photo
“Obviously that means that he knows nothing about what’s going on here,” said Yale dining hall worker Theo (“Like the Huxtables”) Coleman (pictured) said. “Tell him he should come down and walk around. And see what else is going on.” Coleman rattled off some of his favorite New Haven shopping stops such as Gourmet Heaven, Urban Outfitters, and most of all Jimmy’s Urban Clothing & Footwear on Whalley Avenue.
Jimmy’s is also a favorite of Town Fair Tire “lumper” William Gallishaw, who said New Haven can also boast of great pizza from spots like Yorkside, Alpha Delta and Modern. “By him making a comment like that,” Gallishaw said, “that’s not fair.” He thought he might have stopped in Gant’s once a long time ago. But that was when a shoe store lived there.
“No, he’s not right. But it’s also not a surprise to me that people who run that kind of store would be that kind of peremptory egotist …” remarked Yale rising junior Mike Rose, a fan of New Haven’s theaters, parks, and neighborhoods like Wooster Square.
When he heard about the remark, Downtown Alderman Doug Hausladen began reeling off products have come from New Haven: the grandfather clock, the hamburger, the bicycle, erector sets… He moved to modern-era new-media trailblazers like SeeClickFix and HigherOne. Then Hausladen diplomatically added: ” “I’m glad that Gant came back [to New Haven]. I’m glad they’re shopping their Yale Co-op line around the world.”
“Odd!” remarked New Haven state Rep. Pat Dillon. “Is insulting people part of their marketing strategy?”
As crowds passed the Gant store Thursday, only two people were found inside: two employees.
Tables of “Gant /New Haven” label merchandise awaited customers. One had shorts that normally sell for $138; they were on sale at 50 percent off. Another table had bathing trunks selling for $125; they were not on sale. Both items were manufactured in China.
I was actually considering taking advantage of that 50% off sale before I read this.