Historic Hickey Freeman factory to renovate in $8.2M project

The parent company of renowned clothier Hickey Freeman, Luxury Men’s Apparel Group, has committed to creating up to 80 new jobs over the next three years by stabilizing operations and improving efficiencies at the historic factory in the city of Rochester. The firm will retain its current 420 positions.

Luxury Men’s Apparel Group will receive state funds for the $8.2 million project, including a $4 million loan through the Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative. In addition to the URI funding, efforts to ensure Hickey Freeman’s continued presence at the company’s North Clinton Avenue location were also supported by Federal Government officials, Monroe County, the City of Rochester, and the Greater Rochester Enterprise. Upgrades at the factory are expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

“Hickey Freeman has been a fixture of Rochester’s business and manufacturing community for generations, and this investment will ensure it remains part of the city’s economic fabric for decades to come,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “We are proud to support the expansion of this iconic Rochester company, creating quality jobs for hardworking residents and moving the Finger Lakes forward.”

Founded in 1899, Hickey Freeman, a men’s suit manufacturer, has been operating at its current North Clinton Street facility, dubbed the Temple, since 1912. In addition to providing employment for neighborhood residents, Hickey Freeman’s Heroes & Leaders program seeks to hire local veterans and supports Rochester and returning veterans nationally with donated suits for interviewing and employment.