MELODY'S CORNER
748 N. Jefferson Street
414.276.5744
Sitting in the back office of Melody's Corner is quite an experience. The walls are covered with photos, notes from customers, historical advertisements and more. Personal letters sending congratulatory wishes and bitter-sweet goodbyes garnish every available surface in the small space. But what would you expect to see decorating the walls in this landmark retail establishment one month before they close their doors? Melody's Corner is an institution in Milwaukee and it has been outfitting the finest ladies in the region and beyond for over three decades. With one month left before their final day on May 15th of this year, the store is bustling with customers coming in to say their farewells and enjoy huge savings.
In 1979 Sonny's for Men opened their doors on the 2nd floor of the 770 N. Jefferson building when this block of Jefferson Street, between Mason and Wells, was truly a retail hub. East Town residents nicknamed the block, "Milwaukee's Rodeo Drive" because it was filled with boutiques, jewelry stores, fashion, and more. It was the place to do your Christmas shopping, to see and be seen, to catch glimpses of Milwaukee's wealthy residents, and to feel a bit like Hollywood in the Midwest.
Melody and Sonny Gensler were newlyweds of four years, who shared a love for each other and a love for fashion, when they became retail entrepreneurs. Both life long East-Siders with fashion in their blood, this was a natural step. Melody recalls being outfitted entirely in clothing made by her mother as she grew up, which lead her to work in retail before meeting Sonny. Sonny's father was a tailor and he too was highly influenced by the clothing industry. With the apprenticeship of Dolores Wuhrman, owner of Bella Boutique, Sonny and Melody started a business that would last more than thirty years and grow well beyond what they imagined. In those early days, one corner of Sonny's for Men was an area dedicated to women shoppers, named ... appropriately ... Melody's Corner.
Over the years their businesses expanded and they moved to the current Melody's Corner location with a great deal more square footage than the current layout. They opened a satellite store inside The Pfister and eventually Sonny moved into a separate storefront down the block. Melody has become essentially a personal shopper for most of the well-dressed women in Milwaukee. Her annual buying trips to New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Vegas, and other markets, bring back treasures that may not typically be found at other local retailers. Both Sonny and Melody built their businesses on service and quality, and it has never failed them. Over the years, they have found themselves outfitting many celebrities who visited Milwaukee. Shopping sprees took place with guests such as Julie Andrews, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou, Ernest Borgnine, Bart Starr and many other sports figures and well-known clients.
Four years ago Sonny retired and has been helping Melody over these last few years. Finally he has convinced her to retire herself, so that they can spend some quality time with each other and their family. Today they have five children, three grandchildren and one great grandson ... all waiting to fill their retirement years. Melody and Sonny plan to travel, do volunteer work and enjoy not working such long retail hours for the first time in their lives.
But before they go, they must work their way through the remaining inventory. For the next month, everything in the store is 50-70% off the original price. They will close the doors on May 15th and we will say goodbye to a Milwaukee institution and some of East Town's finest individuals. They will be greatly missed but the legacy of Sonny and Melody will survive for many years. "It's been a great ride," says Melody of the last 30+ years, and you can sense the mixed emotion in her voice. Don't let them close their doors without saying a final farewell, and ask Melody to share some more stories with you ... there are far too many to include in this short story.
