125 Year’s of Legacy

Black-and-white text of a newspaper advertisement for The Fleishman Bros. Company in Dunn, North Carolina, with the tagline 'Dunn's Busiest Store'. Lineage of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.

In 1901, the Fleishman family opened their first Retail Store in Dunn, North Carolina; B. Fleishman & Bros. In the years that followed, the Fleishman’s expanded across North and South Carolina, even into Maryland and Pennsylvania. By the 1960’s, Fayetteville, NC became the epicenter of the Fleishman business.

A historical black and white photo of a town square with a clock tower, surrounding buildings, and horse-drawn carriages. Fleishman's can be seen on the right hand side of the image. Lineage of Thompson's, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington
Advertisement for Fleishman's Big Store opening on Thursday, September 21st. Lineage of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.
Signboard reading 'Fleshman & Big Store' and 'B. Fleshman & Bros.' Lineage of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.

At Fayetteville’s city center, there were over a dozen Fleishman owned shops. The store’s ranged from a general goods department store, Fleishman’s Big Store, to men’s and women’s boutiques such as Ed Fleishman & Bros and Leon Sugar Men’s Shop. One of these shops was Fleishman’s Style Shop, owned by SM Fleishman - the great-grandfather of Thompson’s owner Maggie Thompson.

Black and white photo of eight people standing in a store, celebrating the opening of a new unit by Fleishman Bros., with the store interior and products in the background. Lineage of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.
Vintage black and white advertisement for new fall suits tailored by Fleishman's, featuring a man sitting confidently in a suit. Lineage of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.

In 1946 the first cousins of SM, brothers Ed and Milton Fleishman, opened Ed Fleishman & Bros. on Front Street in downtown Wilmington, NC. Milton took over as the sole owner, renaming the business to Fleishman’s Fine Clothing. In 1979, Neal Fleishman, son of Milton, opened the first satellite store in Independence Mall. Until closing their doors in 2016, Fleishman’s Fine Clothing was the cornerstone of menswear in Wilmington.

Four men in suits and ties at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, with a banner reading 'Ed. Fleishman & Bros.' in the background. Lineage of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.
SM Fleishman, Great Grandfather of owner Maggie Fleishman, standing in front of a Theater in 1925 in downtown Fayetteville
SM Fleishman, Great Grandfather of owner Maggie Fleishman, standing in front of a Theater in 1925 in downtown Fayetteville

Since B.Fleishman & Bros. first opened their doors in Dunn in 1901, not a single day has gone by without the Fleishman family owning and operating a retail store in North Carolina. Over time though, the number of stores have dwindled; so much so that for over 50 years no new Fleishman stores have opened.

Sign with black cursive text that reads 'Fleishman's' on a white background with a brown border. Lineage of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.

In 2027, a new chapter for the Fleishman’s legacy will begin.

Founded by Maggie and Bryce Thompson, Thompson’s is carrying forward the Fleishman legacy that was built on service, craftsmanship, and relationships.

Maggie and Bryce met in 2016 while working at the Peter Millar retail store in North Hills of Raleigh, NC. What started as colleagues during a college job quickly turned into the dream of Thompson’s. Within months, they began dating and discussing the future. From the beginning, their dream has been to operate their own store.

Thompson’s of Wilmington is the result of the next ten years of planning, learning the industry, and an ever-growing passion for menswear. Thompson’s is determined to establish itself as the premier destination for men’s clothing in Southeastern North Carolina.

As a family of three, Maggie, Bryce, and Margot are excited to turn their lifelong dream of owning and operating a high-end men’s clothing boutique into a reality. Throughout this growth, the store will remain committed to our core mission and values, ensuring that our clients continue to have exceptional experiences every single time they walk through the doors.

Maggie Thompson with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair wearing a green blazer and navy top sitting and smiling in a room with a blue wall background and a gold bookshelf. Owner of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.
Maggie Thompson with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair wearing a green blazer and navy top sitting and smiling in a room with a blue wall background and a gold bookshelf. Owner of Thompson's of Wilmington, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington NC.
Bryce Thompson with glasses smiling outdoors in a park with green grass and trees, wearing a blue checkered custom sport coat, tailored white shirt, and light purple polka dot tie. Owner of Thompson's, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington
Bryce Thompson with glasses smiling outdoors in a park with green grass and trees, wearing a blue checkered custom sport coat, tailored white shirt, and light purple polka dot tie. Owner of Thompson's, a Men’s clothing store in Wilmington