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Oculus Spirit [90820]
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Joined: 10/18/09
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We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 1:56 PM
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cozy little downtown Clemson and for some reason I thought about what a loss it “would be” for Judge Keller’s grand ole mercantile store to close.
Many know that his Son Leonard, over 60 now, has been running it for years and continues to display Clemson merchandise that’s a bit different from the other nearby stores..
and displays them on or in those 50-75+ year old wooden bins surrounded by walls lined with great Tiger stuff..or in big antique jewelry-like display cases made of wood & glass that would probably take your grand parents back to their youth and elicit a smile.
And upon entry into the double-hung front wooden & glass doors your feet immediately touch on old historical wooden floors that have felt & supported many customers, even famous Clemson people of past & present fame who wanted to browse or purchase the best from The Judge (who probably wasn’t a judge but probably was a mayor at one time).
Considering visiting Judge Keller’s unique-looking store located on the busiest corner in Tigertown a look-see while at next Clemson game, for you’ll go in with wonderment that this ole world of shopping still exists & with a greeting to boot, and come out with a smile and maybe a unique purchase that basically says look, “I Like My Clemson Tigers”.
Oh, tell Leonard hello & Go Tigers!
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Letterman [256]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 2:02 PM
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This is the place I get my gear in town.
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All-In [48402]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 2:04 PM
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Will do LBB. We're supposed to go up in a couple weeks to do some shopping and spend $$ in lil ole Clemson.
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110%er [8540]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 2:40 PM
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I love Judge Keller's and when any businesses close, the City can be blamed for prostituting downtown to developers. What a nightmare to get around and park downtown. It would be great if the City would build a parallel street and make downtown a mall.
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Orange Blooded [2693]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 2:44 PM
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That would be a great idea Valley. Every time I am in town I stop in and spend a few $$$$
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Legend [17337]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 3:17 PM
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Somebody’s looking for a NIL deal.
JK = just kidding and Judge Keller. Nice post LBB.
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110%er [6692]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 3:38 PM
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Maybe they could turn into Judge Keller's bar and grill.
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Hall of Famer [22948]
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It's my first stop everytime we're in Clemson
Feb 11, 2022, 5:17 PM
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Love that place.
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Hall of Famer [22395]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 5:48 PM
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The summer I was taking classes at Clemson, 1992, my wife and I went into that store. We had fun just walking around. I bought s5 or 6 small items - socks, and other things I don't remember.
When we got to the cash register it was quite an experience.
The gentleman, in his 60's or 70's took a small brown bag (that he would put merchandise in) and wrote down the price of each item, in pencil. Then he proceeded to add them up by hand. And, he did it the old school way some of us learned in elementary school.
Column addition. Start at the top right and add down, calling out the total as you go. Get to the bottom of the column and say, "put down the 4 and carry the 3." Go to the next column and continue.
Then we he finished he checked his work. Of course, this time he started at the bottom and added to the top.
Then he calculated the tax, by hand, and added it to the total.
Then he went to the cash register and entered the total.
All in all, it was a great experience. Heck, it's been almost 30 years and I still remember it.
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All-In [26042]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 6:19 PM
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I was in there after he retired but he was present sitting in his wooden chair with a 3 piece suit on. Never said a word but just nodded.
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Head Coach [797]
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Commissioner [970]
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110%er [5683]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 6:29 PM
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Judge Keller's isnt the busiest Clemson shop, but among all of them, I've had the best service there. By far.
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All-TigerNet [10984]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 11, 2022, 9:47 PM
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I remember buying my 1st "A Clemson Man Needs No Introduction" t-shirt at Judge Keller's 35 to 40 or so years ago. At the time, I didn't know of any other place to buy them.
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Orange Blooded [4119]
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Some history on Judge Keller's Store...
Feb 11, 2022, 11:45 PM
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Judge Keller's store got its start in 1899. A member of the very first class of Clemson cadets, Isaac Leonard Keller left school after two years and opened Keller’s Store, stocking cadet uniform supplies. Legend has it that he could determine sizes and hems of uniforms without even measuring, and so he was given the nickname “Judge.” In 1918, he moved across the street into a wood-frame building, where the store remained until 1936, when the current brick building was erected.
The cadet uniforms might be a thing of the past, but within the walls of Judge Keller’s you can find the uniforms of contemporary Clemson students and fans. Stacks and racks of T-shirts and shorts, sweatshirts and hats cover almost every available surface. For years, they offered overalls, dyed orange, for sale.
The Judge’s grandson and namesake, Isaac Leonard Keller, a 1970 Clemson grad, still owns the store today with the help of his son, Ben. But that doesn’t mean you can’t see vestiges of earlier generations. Three hats that belonged to Leonard’s dad still hang on the wall. And if you look through the boxes on the shelves, you might still find a nice pair of white leather shoes from the 50s.
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110%er [6223]
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Re: We complain about ole Clemson businesses folding or leaving..
Feb 12, 2022, 2:09 PM
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As a freshman in '74, I was looking thru some old stuff in the back of his store and he still had some Clemson College stuff. I wish I would have bought some of it.
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