CANFIELD, Ohio – What started in a basement grew to a flagship store, a second location and robust online sales.
Youngstown Clothing Co., which started in 2016, is marking its 10th anniversary.
“We’re super excited to be a decade strong and very privileged and fortunate that we’ve received so much support from the community,” said Matt McClure, co-owner.
Youngstown Clothing designs and sells apparel that honors the Mahoning Valley, its past and its people. The clothing is produced in America and printed in the Valley.
McClure and his brother started the company while McClure, a Struthers native, was living in Columbus. He was traveling back to the Valley, selling their apparel at the Youngstown Flea, at other pop-ups in the area and online. In 2019, Canfield Fair representatives approached the company about becoming its merchandiser.
That’s when McClure started working full time at Youngstown Clothing. For a couple of years, the company opened a holiday pop-up in Southern Park Mall during November and December. The store opened in the mall after that.
In November 2024, Youngstown Clothing opened in Eastwood Mall. Last November, the company bought a former bank building on U.S. Route 224, and the flagship store relocated from Southern Park Mall.
McClure said the goal from Youngstown Clothing’s start was to own a building for operations, and the store was outgrowing its Southern Park Mall space. The new location more than doubled its size.
He said the inspiration for the company was to represent the Valley in a positive way.
“Our specialty is local pride,” McClure said. “We have so much pride, and we know that everybody here has so much pride being from this area. And that is what we do; we tap into that. We want to share that pride. We also know that a lot of people are from here but live elsewhere, but Youngstown will always be home, even if they’re never going to live here again.”
And that’s one of his favorite aspects of what the company does. He’ll be out of town and wearing a Youngstown Clothing shirt when someone approaches him and asks about it. The clothes give people a way to represent the pride that they have – and that the company has – in the Valley.
The apparel features designs with a distinctly Valley theme. One design is a collage of words of Valley staples such as the cookie table, blueberry doughnuts, Idora Park and pizza. Another boasts “Grit Happens” with “Youngstown, Ohio” printed below. Youngstown State University, Ohio State University and Kent State University clothing also are available. Hoodies, sweatshirts and T-shirts are among the offerings.
The ideas come from McClure and family members, with customers pitching in with some. A suggestion box at the store allows people to provide their input for new designs.
Youngstown Clothing also has what McClure has dubbed the Yonation Jar, and he’s proud of it. The company works with many Valley companies to donate to a charity. That started in 2018.
“We always knew that was a pillar that we wanted to be founded upon, was working with these local businesses that we have grown up admiring and we love and that have helped shape who we are as a people,” McClure explained. “But also to be able to find a way to give back to the community as well – that meant a lot to us.”
Youngstown Clothing is a family business, with several family members involved in its operations. The store employs eight to 10 full- and part-time workers.
As far as the future, the company will keep focusing on improving.
“We have our flagship location, and we hope to be here and we hope to continue getting better at what we do, making those small improvements to continue to become better. And, hopefully, we are lucky enough to keep receiving the support that we have,” McClure said. “And, honestly, we feel like we’re just getting started. We really do. We feel like it’s been 10 years, and we’re so happy to be here, but we truly feel like the sky’s the limit.”
Pictured at top: Matt McClure, co-owner of Youngstown Clothing Co.