Andover Shop

Founded by Andover native Charles Davidson in 1948 in the Main Streed building his father owned, The Andover Shop was co-founded by Andover resident (and Davidson's brother-in-law) Virgil Marson, the son of Armenian immigrants. Initially a mens wear only store, the shop eventually went co-ed selling ready to wear as well as custom tailored suits. The Andover Shop is known for preppy style. Davidson's sister Dorothy Davidson Marson was the longtime manager of the business operations.

Although the Andover Shop management was known for not discussing it's clientele, customers themselves were know to publicly acknowledge the sources of their high-end menswear. Customers included Massachusetts Governor William Weld, Boston Globe columnists Bud Collins and George Frazier, writer Malcolm Gladwell, Historian Henry Louis Gates and jazz musicians Miles Davis and Bobby Short. At Senator Ted Kennedy's funeral in ____, The Harvard Square location of The Andover Shop was acknowledged as a place where good times were had.

See Preached gospel of 'style, not fashion': Longtime proprieter of Andover Shop Boston Globe 12 Dec 2019: B.1. Charlie Davidson, the Andover Shop's 'Baron of Bespoke,' dies at 93 Boston Globe 11 Dec 2019. Virgil Marson, co-owner of legendary Andover Shop, dies at 94 05 Nov 2018. The Andover Shop, a Harvard Square salon for jazz artists and literati, is up for sale 18 Apr 2018 DOROTHY MARSON, 66 ANDOVER SHOPS OFFICE MANAGER Boston Globe 16 Mar 1989: 55

back to Main Page