Specialties
With over 100 years in Danville, Rippe's Apparel is famous for better and designer sportswear and dresses, great accessories, career and occasion suits, and outerwear, for sizes 0 to 26W. In addition, Rippe's Furs offers furs and outerwear in sizes XS to XXXL; Rippe's Lifestyle offers yoga and ath-leisure wear; and right next door, Rippe's Shoes offers dress, career, and comfort footwear from boots to sandals -- all here on Main Street in downtown Danville!
History
Established in 1907.
Benjamin A. Rippe, a native New Yorker seeking his fortune in the reviving South, established the original Rippe's Store in the warehouse district of Danville, Virginia, in 1907, with his wife Annie. About 1919, as business began to migrate away from the warehouses to "Uptown Main Street," Rippe's also relocated there. Other uptown moves ensued to larger quarters.
Benjamin died in 1934, leaving the operation to Annie. Their son, Murray Rippe, joined his mother at Rippe's after college graduation, but soon left to fight in WWII. After the war, he rejoined his mother, building a new-from-the-ground-up store in 1947. By 1965, an adjoining downtown building was acquired and incorporated.
In 1978, Murray's son Ben joined Rippe's. In 1992, Murray and wife Esther sold all stock to Ben, completing the transition to a third generation. Ben expanded the business again in Rippe's 100th year, opening Rippe's Shoes next door.