Isaac "Ike" Benveniste was born on the Island of Rhodes (Rodos), Greece to a poor family. In 1925, wearing borrowed shoes two sizes too small, 16 year old Ike boarded a freighter to Africa. All Ike had was a loaf of bread, a piece of Greek dry cheese and a few coins in his pocket. Upon arriving in Africa, Ike traveled to the African Interior and spent his few coins on a pound of sugar, a pound of flour, some colored beads and a backpack to carry his "wares".
Ike became friendly with the natives and traded for their animal hides, ivory and semi-precious stones. Over the next few years, Ike's trading business grew from his original backpack to a bicycle to a small truck. Eventually, Ike bought a building in Elizabethville, Belgium Congo (now, Lumbumbashi, Zaire) and started his first store. Ike's reputation for fairness continued to bring the natives and settlers to him. Ike was well loved and respected by everyone who traded with him.
In 1948, the Belgium Congo was experiencing pre-revolution violence so Ike and his family made their way to America where they settled in Seattle, Washington. Because they left everything behind and had only the clothes on their back and what they could carry, Ike had to start over.
Although, Ike spoke 5 languages and several African dialects, he did not speak English. So Ike took a job sweeping and stocking a store in Seattle. Two years later, Isaac had learned enough English and had saved a little money so that he could open his own store. Renton Economy Department Store was founded in 1950. The store was known locally as "The Renton Economy" and was a general merchandise and surplus store that carried all types of merchandise including western apparel. Ike's goal was to provide his customer with "quality at reasonable prices".
In 1976 Ike's daughter Lucie purchased the store from her father and changed the store's focus to western wear. Lucie temporarily changed the name of the store to "Renton Economy and Western Wear" to maintain the "Renton Economy" identity out of respect for Ike. Only after Ike's death in 1980, was the name permanently changed to Renton Western Wear.
In 1986, Lucie's son Jerry became her partner and the third generation to enter the business. Two years later, Lucie decided to settle into a state of semi-retirement where she continues to be involved as her other obligations allow. Jerry's sister Gina became Renton Western Wear's newest partner in 1989.
Renton Western Wear has grown to be Washington's Western Super Stores. We are proud to continue Ike's tradition of "providing quality western wear at reasonable prices in a comfortable service oriented environment" at our two large Seattle and Tacoma area stores and our latest addition of a smaller Renton Western Wear the Outpost. Renton Western Wear's success was recognized in 1993 when Renton Western Wear was awarded the Chamber of Commerce's' "Total Quality Business" Award and again in 1994 when Renton Western Wear was recognized and awarded as a "Best of the Northwest Business Awards" finalist in the Small Business Category by Pacific Lutheran University.
In 1996, Renton Western Wear started its internet division with the goal of "providing quality western wear at reasonable prices in a educational and service oriented internet environment".
We welcome you to Renton Western Wear's internet store and invite you to learn, shop and let us know what you think of our site. We look forward to seeing you on down the trail...
Gina & Jerry
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