About Us
Marios of Portland and Seattle and Marios 3.10 in Bridgeport Village are men’s and women’s specialty stores known for their exceptional customer service, offering exquisite designer clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
In the 1960s Mario Bisio Sr. opened Mario’s, a family clothing store in Portland’s newly opened Lloyd Center. Mario Jr. began working for his father as a kid, sweeping floors and opening boxes, and selling during his high school years.
Mario Jr. graduated from the University of Oregon and by 1973 became a full business partner with his father. A year after Mario Sr.’s passing in 1975, Mario transformed the store and made his first buying trip to Europe. In 1976 Mario’s was the first retailer to bring Canali, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Diesel Jeans to the United States. In 1977 Mario opened a second store at the Portland Galleria.
Mario’s opened its first women’s store named Ragazza in the early 1980s, across the street from the Galleria. In 1982, Mario expanded to Seattle, opening a store for both men and women on 6th Avenue.
In the 1990s, fashion expert Lynwood Holmberg was hired to lead the growing women’s department. In 1994 the Seattle store was renovated, featuring a grand staircase leading to the mezzanine and a new, expanded women’s department. Lynwood and Mario introduced new lines, including Isaia, Loro Piana, Narcisio Rodriguez, and Prada.
The Portland men’s and women’s locations were united in the Fox Tower on Broadway in 2002. The Seattle and Portland stores now included Ermenegildo Zegna shops and in 2005 new jewelry departments were created. In 2006 Mario’s 3.10 opened in Bridgeport Village, catering to customers who favor a stylish, casual lifestyle. In 2008, Mario Bisio received the Lifetime Achievement award from MR Magazine and by 2010 both Seattle and Portland stores became home to the first and only Brunello Cucinelli shops in the area.
In July 2014, Mario’s was recognized by MR Magazine as one of the 10 Most Influential Stores in North America. For more than 50 years Mario’s has helped customers express themselves through style.
In September of 2015 Marios entered a partnership with Mitchell Stores. Mario and his family have been great friends of ours for well over 15 years; we couldn’t find a more synergistic business to partner with.
September of 2018 saw the expansion and remodel of the downtown Seattle store and this Fall 2023 the downtown Portland store will complete a year-long expansion and remodel.
The History of Mitchell Stores

Our parents/grandparents, Ed and Norma Mitchell, founded the company in 1958 with three men’s suits, a coffee pot and a dream…
The heart of their extraordinary vision was to “hug” the customer… to enhance and add value to the retail experience by offering unsurpassed service, a uniquely warm environment, to give back to their communities and to build trusting relationships with customers and friends that would last throughout generations.
The first location of the original “Ed Mitchells” was an 800 square-foot former plumbing supply store in Westport, CT. Norma famously brought in her coffee pot each day to make the customers feel at home. For over 50 years, we have strived to carry on that spirit and tradition. Today, we offer lattes and M&M’s, have a dedicated “Kiddie Corner” and much more… we try to do her proud.
- 1958
The Beginning
Ed and Norma open the original Ed Mitchells store in Westport, CT in an 800 sq. ft. space, offering 5 men’s suit styles.
- 1979
New Westport Location
Ed Mitchells moves to present location, with 17,000 sq. ft. of selling space and 8,000 sq. ft. for other uses.
- 1993
Mitchells Flagship
Expansion of current location, adding 8,300 sq. ft. Name changes to “Mitchells”.
- 1995
Richards
Acquisition of Richards of Greenwich, an 8,000 sq. ft. privately owned men’s clothing store.
- 2000
Greenwich Flagship
Grand Opening of new Richards in a 27,000 sq. ft. building, introducing women’s fashion, jewelry, and accessories.
- 2005
Marshs
Acquisition of Marshs in Huntington, a men’s clothing store. Renovation and addition of women’s department.
- 2009
Wilkes Bashford
Wilkes Bashford, with stores in San Francisco and Palo Alto, is acquired by Mitchells.
- 2011
Mitchell Stores
A new entity, “Mitchell Stores” is formed.
- 2012
San Francisco Flagship
Wilkes Union Square 7-story townhouse and Palo Alto stores undergo landmark renovations.
- 2014
Ecommerce
First online sale Saturday October 18th on our e-commerce site, an online extension of our in-store experience.
- 2015
Marios
Mitchells partners with Marios of Seattle, Portland, and Bridgeport, growing to ten store locations and four incredible brands.
- 2024
Palo Alto Flagship
On November 14th 2024 we opened the doors to our new Wilkes Bashford Flagship. The new free standing 25,000 sq foot store at the Stanford Shopping Center includes boutiques from Brunello Cucinelli, Zegna, Brioni, Akris, and is almost three times larger than the former store and brings new designers and expanded selection from current brands.
- 2025
Stanley Korshak
On March 4th we announced the strategic addition of Stanley Korshak, the leading luxury retail stores in Dallas, TX into Mitchell Stores collection of specialty stores. Mitchells | Richards | Wilkes | Marios & now….Stanley Korshak.
The Mitchells have been close personal friends with former owner, Crawford Brock and his family for over 20 years and we couldn’t think of a more synergistic fit into our family of Stores. Stanley Korshak is a legendary 50,000 sq. foot store located in the heart of Uptown at the Dallas and most importantly shares our family’s vision to bringing customers the most exquisite luxury fashions in the world with unequaled personalized service. In addition to the main store, Stanley Korshak has one of the finest, full-service Bridal Salons in the country.
Mitchells is still independent, family-owned and operated by a second, third, and fourth generation of Mitchells, and has grown over the years to 25,000 square-feet. We also have expanded the dream into other communities. In 1995, we acquired Richards of Greenwich, a renowned 8,000 sq. ft. luxury men’s retailer, which we have expanded to include a women’s department, and is now 27,000 sq. ft and the winner of numerous retail space design awards. In 2005, we acquired Marshs of Huntington, a 15,000 sq. ft. men’s store, which we have renovated inside and out, adding women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, and jewelry. In September 2015 we transitioned the name to Mitchells.
In December of 2009, saw the acquisition of the Wilkes Bashford stores of San Francisco and Palo Alto to our portfolio. Wilkes Bashford, founded in 1966 by the retail icon of the same name is the Bay Area’s most renowned luxury retailer. In June of 2023 we broke ground on a new 25,000 square foot flagship store in Palo Alto which is scheduled to open Fall of 2024. Until then our current location in Palo Alto will remain open.
October 2014 saw the launch of our long-awaited e-commerce site. Committed to delivering a unique retail experience, we took our time in considering how to best offer the convenience of electronic shopping, while also delivering on our standards for extraordinary customer service in an online environment. Our e-commerce site is designed to be a true extension of our store, offering proprietary, never-before-seen customer service features.
In September 2015, we partnered with Mario Bisio of Marios in Seattle and Portland, and Marios 3.10 in Bridgeport Village. Mario Bisio, Sr. founded the business in the 1960’s, and under the leadership of his son Mario Bisio, Jr. expanded to three retail stores and has become a leading fashion destination in the Pacific Northwest. Mario and his family had been great friends of ours for many years. In September 2018 Seattle was expanded and renovated followed by downtown Portland in Fall 2023.
In November 2024, we moved our Palo Alto location to the opposite corner of the Stanford Shopping Center in a new 24,000 sq. ft. home finally giving us a flagship location right in the heart of silicon valley.
After many years of sharing information, in March 2025 we partnered with Crawford Brock and his store Stanley Korshak in Dallas, TX. Crawford bought the business from its founder Caroline Hunt in the 1990s and build it into the premier fashion destination in Texas. It is a wonderful addition to our family of stores.
As we have grown over the years to now offer ten locations across five brands, we formed an entity called “Mitchell Stores”. We chose this name because the stores we’ve acquired are also family businesses and we are proud to still be working with members of their founding families. The name also conveys that our business is built on relationships… amongst our associates, designers, and of course, our customers. We strive to deliver the best local brands with shared values.
We look forward to serving our beloved communities (in person and online) for many generations to come!
Store Locations and Hours
Wilkes Palo Alto
New Flagship Location
Stanford Shopping Center
Videos
Books by Jack Mitchell
Jack's Newest Book!
Learn how to apply the proven principles of “Hug Your Customers” to refine your selling technique, boost your sales, and keep your customers coming back for more.
This book details winning sales strategies to help you adjust your mindset, refine your selling style, and embrace the joy and value of your customers.
A master of customer service reveals his secrets for developing long-lasting business relationships and customer loyalty. "We shower our customers with attention. There's no doubt in my mind that our philosophy can be applied to selling just about anything -- from aircraft engines to beanbags."
"Hug Your People" is more than a book to Jack; it is his personal mission to bring civility and compassion back to the way we all conduct our business and our lives. Jim Nantz of CBS Sports is among the early admirers, calling it "a book rich with wisdom. The Mitchell family secret for success should be read by everyone -- it's like Mike Krzyzewski or Tony Dungy opening up their play books for the public." The new volume will join Mitchell's first book in every successful businessperson's library. Together, they speak volumes!
Jack's Speaking Engagements

Jack Mitchell is a passionate and enthusiastic speaker whose message can relate to those who work in all levels of any industry. As one of the country’s most respected retailers in his third-generation family business, he has a long, proven record of providing exceptional, personalized customer service and maintaining employee loyalty and longevity.
Jack has been invited as the keynote speaker for over 200 events. Corporations from Merrill Lynch to Starbucks and universities from Georgetown to Columbia Business School have hired him to elaborate on his philosophies, which are powerful in both their simplicity and relevance. Harvard University has used the Mitchell family business as a case study. His personalized speeches provide specific techniques on how to get to know and better service customers, how to hire employees and make them happy and productive, and how to run a successful family business that passes from generation to generation.
To learn more about inviting Jack to be a speaker at your event or to learn more about his Hug Your Customers, Hug Your People, and Selling the Hug Your Customers Way business workshops and consulting services, please contact:
Jack Mitchell