Schatzlein Saddle Shop to close after 115 years on Lake Street

The Stetson hats and Lucchese cowboy boots were going fast at Schatzlein Saddle Shop on Tuesday.

The store had even sold three saddles since the announcement Sunday that it would close and end a presence on Lake Street that began 115 years ago, when most people still got around Minneapolis in horse-drawn carriages.

"The customers are sad. They don't want this tradition to go away," said Janet Schatzlein, a third-generation owner who looks forward to retirement. "Most of my good customers understand. They know I want to ride my horse more."

The store bustled with customers picking up deals as calls came in from all over the country. Celebrity customers have included country star Kenny Chesney, Gene Simmons of Kiss and English singer songwriter Billy Bragg.

On a visit to Schatzlein Saddle Shop to buy bolo ties, Joe Clift learned his favorite store is closing. "The boots I'm wearing now. The hat on my head, I bought them here," said Clift, of his black Stetson hat and Dan Post Boots. "I didn't realize it was closing. I'm kind of upset now."

Clift approached one of the owners, Paul Schatzlein, to shake hands and thank him. Until he'd visited the store for the first time, Clift, 25, said he'd never had a properly fitting pair of cowboy boots.

The store is expected to close by the end of September after a series of retail challenges: increased competition online, supply chain issues hampering efforts to keep top brands stocked, and as the owners struggle to find part-time employees.

Of the five siblings, four work full-time.

"We try to have four people on all the time and that is us," said Janet Schatzlein, who was ready to retire three years ago.

Their grandfather, German immigrant Emil Schatzlein, opened as a harness shop in 1907. His first location was down Lake Street where Dulono's Pizza had a long run. At that time, horses were a regular part of life in Minneapolis and he'd worked in harness shops. The business evolved as the culture moved to cars.

Their dad, Jerry, took over the business in 1958 when it was neighboring the current store. Schatzlein has been in its current location since 1968.

Business has gone up and down with the economy. But the downturn after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 was different. "When we had to close for the three months for the pandemic, that was hard," Janet Schatzlein said.

The store survived with help from the Paycheck Protection Program, grants and a shift to delivery and pickup distribution, she said. But the manufacturing pipeline of their top sellers has never recovered.

Some nearby buildings were damaged in the riots following the police killing of George Floyd. Schatzlein Saddle Shop wasn't hit and the siblings closed the store for just one business day. But the perceptions of some customers changed.

"I still have people coming down and saying, 'Is it safe?' and I say, 'Yes, it is,'" Schatzlein said.

Now, the family is trying to figure out what to do with all of the historical artifacts, including a buggy that her grandfather purchased. An English saddle on display that he made and sold for $75 then would now go for $2,000, Schatzlein said.

Younger sister Joan West is wistful about the closing and said she plans to take a break, then find another job.

"I'm excited to try something new, but I'm sad because I've been here for 40 years." West said. "It's all I know."