Ruehl No.925

For the amount of clothing I have from Ruehl, it’s a slap of infidelity to give it four stars, especially considering that this store broke-​up and closed on me and I still long for it. It’s not suprising I would still miss Ruehl. Before I found it, there was a huge hole for me in fashion, so when I discovered Ruehl would close, I already knew I was going to return to that previous chasm where Gap, Banana Repulic, J Crew, Abercrombie, and American Eagle couldn’t collectively fill me.
I’m not saying Ruehl and I had a perfect relationship: quite a few items had too much destruction or just a bit more advertising sewn on than I wanted. I had always hoped for more button-​ups, khakis, sweaters, and jackets that I could wear to work for my business casual wardrobe, and less hoodies, tees and cargo shorts. I don’t mind spending $ 80 on some bottoms I use twice a month at the job vs. some cargo shorts I am wearing 3 months out of the year.
And stuff was fairly expensive and at times overly trendy.
And sometimes the employees were over-​zealous about not taking returns. But overall, I never much felt like they were snobs or looked at me funny, despite finely combing the store over.
But I miss you Ruehl.
Being in the store was a nice little trip to a mini-​adult-​disneyland, and I could pretend for a while that I was in a different world. The quality of the clothes stands out. Leather trims, unexpectedly… subtle colors mixed in a sweater I thought was just «navy blue,» and soft comfort unmatched. My favorite hoodie is still my first one… its the most comfortable piece of clothing I own. And the fit isn’t made for the average American, but more European or Asian? How un-patriotic…and yet, finally someone gets me and what I want in clothing. Or at least got really, really damn close.
And I got you too. I got what you were trying to do and it worked. Or really damn close to working.
You were so close. But the real question at this point is, where do I go now?

So, I am still consistently loving this place. Although I’ve saved my bags and have tons of their clothing, I’ll miss this place. Too bad they’ve been pretty much done for a few weeks now.
The 50% off everything was great.
Will miss this place and their great shirts and lounge-​wear. :]

I miss this store already! It was so sad to see the façade all boarded up for demolition. I still remember waiting for the store to open its gates for the public. Too bad A&F corporate did such a poor job in the marketing department. At least I know my merchandise is rare now. I’ve saved all my receipts, receipt-​folder/​holders, bags of different sizes, and a plethora of apparel/​accessories. I didn’t get a chance to get everything I want but not everyone gets to anyway. I’ve gotten to know some of the managers and they’re nice people. Sometimes it just gets irritating when there are so many models that ask the same question! I missed the 50% off clearance on the first markdown, that was long ago though.
I really liked the secret wheelchair access ramp on the mens side. It was an expressway to mens 1, or the garage from mens 1. I have to savor the memories at this place. I loved the gigantic fitting rooms, even though they made so much noise everytime I put a hanger on the rail, or even just a pair of jeans on the bench. Nice comfy couches are a blessing for days worth of shopping. Ruehl signature cologne is to die for! Nothing will beat the experience of Ruehl and its multimillion dollar construction and architecture. The music is just the kind I like, ambient/​chill with a touch of dance.
When I got the first email that the store was going 50% off everything, I hopped on BART straight to Powell Station to grab everything I wanted. This was during finals week too but luckily I didn’t have any that week. I never did get to see vintage Ruehl stuff that other east coast stores carried but I was able to get my hands on a few of the solid «R» polos before the «Ruehl No.925» and Trubble ones were introduced. I didn’t really like that the clothes went downhill from 2007-​now but it’s not up to the customers to decide. We just have to wait and see what it will be…
Oh, and Trubble is SO CUTE! I want one now.

Clearance sale going on now, people.
I was able to snatch up a cashmere cardigan (in my size!!) for around 18 bucks!
Whhhhhhaaaaaaat?! (read in the voice of Chris Griffin from Family Guy)
Again, like all of Mike Jefferies’ other creations, the store is a dark labyrinth, filled with abundant false exit doors that lead to stock rooms, giant leather couches and ottomans that effectively block hallways, and large potted plants that hinder your range of sight.
Basically a fire hazard in every regard.
But when there’s a clearance sale in the very back– it’s worth the risk.

Smell you later.
I bought a shirt at Ruehl a couple of weeks ago and I’ve only been able to wear it now. You see it reeked of cologne; I had to wash it twice to get rid of the smell.
It’s really too bad because the shirt looks nice and is of high quality. I would shop there again if it were not for the cologne. The store itself isn’t really very inviting either. We probably go to San Francisco Centre at least a couple of times a month, and I only decided to go in because of their website. The storefront is non-​descript and the inside is a cross between the Disneyland Haunted Mansion and a some cheesy nightclub. The low lighting and divided rooms doesn’t make it easy to shop. It’s definitely a case of form over function.
I’ll probably just order online.

the only reason why i patronize this place is because their mascot is a french bulldog and i have a frenchie. their stuff is of a better quality than abercrombie and just a bit more in price. i would definitely pay a little more for stuff that doesnt break.
the only downfall is the cologne/​perfume they spray all over the store. my cousins bf said they spray it on the clothes, everywhere! when i was checking out, the girl had the nerve or didnt have the brain and asked me if i wanted to smell it. i was kinda like WTF isnt it all OVER the store? i think its inside my nostril. when i went home i threw the clothes into the wash right away. the smell was overwhelming. ack

Wandered in while perusing the shops. I must say, it’s the nicest storefront I’ve ever seen. Thought it was a theme restaurant (a la Lark Creek) from the outside.
J was impressed that they carried size 28 denim. However, it’s too trendy for his simplistic taste. I know I’m just a little too cheap to be spending $ 58 for a tee, even if it’s high quality.
Didn’t go far enough back to find the sale merch, but I was blown away by the intricate layout overall. Love all the extra lounging space. Would come here again to check out the handbags.

I really like this store. Its cool and smells really great. I like buying clothes for their quality and RUEHL merchandise is of great quality. The associates here are really chill. They are very helpful and don’t bother you while you’re shopping. There is enough lights to see so i dont understand why people are saying its too dark. ask for a fitting room there’s a lot more light in there.
I don’t understand what people are bitching about!
1. If you know your boyfriend’s style is urban then why the fuck do you walk in to a store like RUEHL? Don’t you see what the guy at the door is wearing? It gives you a clear indication of what to expect and an idea of what kind of guys should be wearing the clothes. So if your boyfriend’s style is urban and he likes to wear over sized clothes then you should really just walk past the store. If RUEHL has nothing your boyfriend would wear then there’s a fat chance that they’ll have nothing for you here as well. So walk to a store more suited for you and your lifestyle… like Metropark.
2. If you’re complaining about how dark it is in the store why don’t you walk out right after you walk in? Seriously turn yourself around and go about your day? Chances are if your bitching about the lighting you won’t find anything in the store simply because its too dark. The concept of mood lighting doesn’t click in your brain.
3. If your complaining about how the clothes at RUEHL are over priced then why do you walk into this part of the mall? Perhaps you should have just stayed out of the mall or you should have just marched your way into a Marshall’s or Ross or American Eagle.
I like reading posts where people bitching about the prices of the merchandise in all four concepts of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. stores (Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Co., RUEHL 925, Gilly Hicks) Do you not understand that this is one of the FEW companies that actually pay attention to every single detail of their merchandise they produce? The textiles they use are of high quality. The finishes and details on all their clothes are all done by hand. So yeah the prices are high because of the quality of the materials that are used. Construction of the garment are of high quality and craftsmanship.
The little rips on your polo collars aren’t done by a machine!
Most people that are bitching about prices I feel have no idea on what they’re buying. Clearly its all for aesthetics to them. Thats all good. But don’t hate and bitch about brands that isn’t your style just because you don’t like the lifestyle its promoting.
3. If you expect sales associates to walk around and follow you and wipe your ass then seriously don’t walk into this store. There’s a fat chance they don’t want you in their store anyway. Associates or should i say… MODELS… are only there to greet you, open a fitting room for you, call the stock room for you, ring you up and bag your clothes, and to make sure you didn’t steal anything.
If you walk in acting like your shit don’t stink there’s a 99.9% chance they’ll act the same way towards you. Just like you some of the associates here have the money to buy the clothes and only work at the store for the discount. So be nice because if you’re going to be a bitch some their workers can be a bigger dick. (what do you expect they’re promoting a new york lifestyle… that includes attitude too) So be nice and treat others the way you want to be treated.
5 stars because i had a great shopping experience and i got a lot of complements on the clothes i bought from there and questions on where i bought it from. (the clothes dont scream RUEHL)
Guys… the boxer briefs are so comfy… just the right amount of support for the package. hahah 5 stars!

Good if it’s on sale. Head STRAIGHT TO THE BACK OF THE STORE unless you’re loaded.
Love the colors of their clothing, kinda rustic… deep plums, scarlet. Also very comfortable, soft, and smells great…
They have the best bags ever! Durable and cute, plain burgundy without half naked people on it (cuz that’s terrible!). Your receipt comes in a nice sleeve.
The dressing rooms suck though. Individual ones randomly scattered about… you gotta hunt for them, and for someone to let you in.

Those sneaky folks from New Albany have done it again. Weird. Interesting idea, but they really should turn up the lights…

If you shop at Abercrombie & Fitch, Penguin, and Hollister this place is for you.
I’m not a big fan of the aforementioned companies and I didn’t find anything that would suit my bf’s urban style, especially the $ 50 collared shirts they were trying to pass off as worthy. No thanks bb.
Would it hurt to turn on a few more lights? I mean geeezus, I’m not trying to step on other people’s tacky Coach shoes on my way to finding the exit!

I had no idea what Ruehl was, in fact my friend Delaine Z. had to point it out to me. She said the concept was the latest in marketing strategies. .. to make something look intriguing, w/​little fan fare, to make one feel that if they know what it is, they should be shopping there. Huh? What happened to slapping a hand-​painted clearance sign on a window to draw people in to shop?!
So I defiantly go in. .. I don’t know what Ruehl is about, but make way ’cause here I come. What a let down. First step in, where am I? Which side is my side? A dark labyrinth of rooms w/​neatly folded items stacked by colors. I feel like I’m in the movie Eyes Wide Shut. I look at a puny t-​shirt for $ 48. It looks like it would fit a 12 year old. Looked for sales racks, didn’t see any. I’m outta there. So the Ruehl concept is to recreate a Greenwich Village shop for the post-​grad crowd? Dumb. Sure, post-​grads have jobs, but they’re probably in debt up to their eyeballs. Why would they want a $ 48 t-​shirt?

It’s gosh darn dark in there. However I enjoy walking into Ruehl for two reasons:
The nekkid men’s pitchers in the women’s denim area. (Two stars)
The major discounts! I found a $ 400 sweater for $ 80! (Two stars)
On the other hand, it’s cramped in addition to being dark. I walked into fake plants and felt like I was in a jungle. It also feels a bit like a maze if you’re not blessed with an accurate sense of direction. I accidentally walked into a mirror that looked like another corridor. Whoopsie!
And the fragrance! The store smells like the greasy, creepy guy that wants to lure you to him with his «scent.»
But I tough it out because you can’t beat those clearance prices!

I completely do not understand why people don’t like this store. I mean, if you’re unwilling to pay for good quality, then that’s your own problem. Ruehl is Abercrombie’s 4^th concept, and this particular location was one of the first 10 or 12 stores nationwide. Ruehl is targeted to post-​graduates. It’s a nice place to buy some nice weekend wear as well as a few selections for work wear.
The prices are a little steeper than Abercrombie & Fitch, but this demographic has jobs so wouldn’t you expect the prices to be higher? When I visited Abercrombie’s headquarters, I found out about a 5^th concept in the pipeline that will be targeted to 30+ year olds.
Just as Abercrombie & Fitch is styled after the Adirondacks and Hollister after California, Ruehl is themed after Greenwich Village in New York City. The first thing you’ll notice when you walk up to the store is that the outside looks like a two-​story brick house one would possibly find on Bleecker street.
Upon walking in, you’re greeted with a long hallway in this «house» with the men’s clothes on the left and the women’s on the right. It really does feel like a cozy house. The fitting rooms are located in inconspicuous locations that would resemble a closet to the unknown eye.
I personally love this store, and have found the staff to be really helpful. Now, you will find your occasional snob assistant, but if you give the attitude right back to them and find someone else, you’ll be fine. The manager actually tried to help me find a hand-​knit sweater that they had only received two of, but was unfortunately unable to do so.
I recommend coming here, but do realize it is Abercrombie-​esque. Besides, I prefer the bulldog logo to the moose any day.

I really like this store, as overpriced and dark as it is.
Their clothes are super soft, the logos aren’t as huge (but that’s the reason people buy it, isn’t it?) and I can fit their XS perfectly.
I’m such a dork. Ok, this is the exact same thing as A+F, HCO, and whatever shit this company dishes out, but I tend to conform and therefore, I like this store.
Bring flashlights!
.just kidding. Don’t. You’ll get stared at.

Whoever designed the layout of this place was high on crack. I felt like a mouse stuck in one of those damn experiment mazes trying to sniff my way to the register. After wandering around like a jackass for 20 minutes, during which time I seriously considered just walking out with the merchandise, I finally found the register and paid the $ 70 for my sweatshirt. I returned to work late, broke, and wishing I had stole the sweatshirt.
I don’t really get what the difference is supposed to be between here and Abercrombie… I think I’ll stick to the original and avoid wasting my time trying to navigate through this nut house. Crack is whack.

Ruehl Japanese haiku:
Walked into Ruehl
Oh shit it is dark in here
Forgot my flashlight

I echo the sentiments of the haters here. Overpriced product. The store is an exercise in sensory overload. The salespeople do not represent the target demographic. Logos everywhere. And who came up with the name? Ruehl? It sounds like a glandular secretion.
But above all, Ruehl is a perfect example of why critical theory doesn’t translate well in the real world. It looks like the geniuses at A&F Co. who conceived Ruehl were reading some combination of Baudrillard and Rorty. Ruehl is a parody of its older brothers; it is just a spectacle that feeds on its earlier incarnations, either as simulacra or in some vague pomo ironic fashion. It just doesn’t work. They’re trying to be hip by basing the lifestyle in NYC, but any self-​respecting ‘hipster’ there wouldn’t be caught dead in a shirt emblazoned with RUEHL. It’s almost funny.
Remember how Ernest Hemingway ended up writing like an author who was trying to write like Ernest Hemingway? That’s Ruehl.
One star for the substantial blood-​red shopping bags with the cloth handles. Too bad you have to buy something to get one. And one star for bringing a smile to Mayor McBitchy’s face. No GURRLFRENZ, I’m not laughing WITH you, I’m laughing AT you.
So we’ve figured out the general idea:
1. Hollister. San Diego beach bum who lives in a shack. The termite eaten planks and strategically placed sand are nice touches.
2. Abercrombie. New England WASP prepster who explores his/​her bisexuality while supposedly at St. Paul’s, Choate, or Phillips Andover when in reality it’s Schimmelpennick’s Finishing School.
3. Ruehl. Trust fund baby who moves into Mommy and Daddy’s brownstone after graduating from Bennington but, inexplicably, dresses like a prole.
I think they’re overdue for an SF iteration. I can picture the storefront already: some Victorian façade done up in garish colors a la Tales of the City. It’s called CHANCRE.

Either you like this style of clothes, or you don’t. Yes, it is owned by Abercrombie, so you will find some of the same style. If the Abercrombie/​Hollister/​Ruehl style is not one you like in the first place, why bother to write reviews just to bash the stores?
I happen to like the style in Ruehl. The store has a laid back, comfortable atmosphere. The various rooms that some reviewers seemed to have trouble navigating lend themselves to wandering and browsing. I felt like there was more open space to move around than you will find at Hollister or A&F. I also believe the music is slightly less loud. The cologne scent that permeates the store is a pleasant one.
The employees I met were very helpful and pleasant, and handled my questions well.
As far as the clothes themselves go, the quality seems to be very high I can’t evaluate the durability yet, but everything seems to be solidly made. The clearance section is also great, as they have a large selection, all at 50% off.
Overall, a very enjoyable store, with good atmosphere, clothes and employees. I will be going back there again. If you are a person who hates all A&F brands, you will hate Ruehl. If you are a little more open, however, you may like Ruehl as much as I did.

Ok, is it ok to admit that I love this store? Did I grow up on Abercrombie & Fitch? Heck no, I remember when they were an apparel line more in tune with the old man’s sensibilities, but then got hugely rebranded in the early nineties, to what it is today.
While I’m not an A&F hater or lover, I do find their t-​shirts lines sometimes raucous enough to be smarter than the frat boy mentality they seem to espouse.
So this Ruehl, this Abercrombie for Adults concept, well I’ve been waiting for it. My friend Meghan in NYC had even sent me some t-​shirts from the SoHo location to seduce me to their wares. And it seems to have worked.
With much anticipation, I went into SF’s very own, in the Westfield. Unlike most retail concepts, Ruehl’s really put some creativity into it. Is it gothic frat? I’m not sure, but I have bitten the apple. The space is nicely layed out, with rooms opening up into rooms, so you could almost lose yourself.
Clothes are there for the browsing, nicely laid out. There are t-​shirts, plenty of button downs, jeans, outerwear, pretty much the same sort of selection you’d find with Abercrombie. Aside from the branding, I’m not sure I’ve figured out how different the styles are, but as a dedicated follower of marketing and branding, I do as I’m told. Abercrombie for the post graduate set, I can live with that, here is my credit card, let’s get on with it.