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About 107 years after it originally started in downtown Albert Lea, Leutholds is expected to return to the heart of the city in November.

Bill and Paula Hertling took over the men’s and women’s clothing store in the Northbridge Mall in 1992, and though the mall is the only place they have ever worked since they have been in Albert Lea, they are excited at the possibilities that await them downtown.

Bill Hertling said the couple’s lease came up for renewal and with several other stores leaving to go elsewhere, they thought it also might be time for them to look for a new location.

“We’re just so excited to be a part of the downtown crowd again,” he said. “The downtown has a revitalization going on, and we want to be a part of it.”

Leutholds opened in Albert Lea in 1917 in what is now often referred to as the Whimzy and Crescendo building on Broadway. In 1988 the store moved to the Northbridge Mall, and in 1992 the

Hertlings moved to Albert Lea from New Ulm to run the store. Both had previously worked in clothing stores — Bill at Leutholds in New Ulm and Paula at another store.

He said they had originally wanted to have a Leutholds store in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, but decided to stay in Albert Lea, even after the opening came up later at the Wisconsin location.

In 1994, the corporate company dissolved and gave the Hertlings the opportunity to buy the store and keep the same name.

They decided to stay in Albert Lea, which by that time had become their home.

Leutholds started out in the mall next to Herberger’s, where Pizza Ranch is currently, and then moved further north to where it sits today.

After they decided to move, Hertling said they had looked at a smaller building downtown, but decided it was too small. Then, almost by a streak of luck, they checked out part of the buildings owned by David Nelson that housed Four Seasons, which had been empty for a few years.

They will be right next to Jake’s Pizza on Clark Street.

Hertling said they plan to take out all of the carpet and refinish the hardwood floors in the building, as well as paint the walls on the inside. They also hope to paint the exterior and hope to use the same white letters for their name sign that were at the mall.

They will utilize both the main level and the basement level of the building with the men’s casual sportswear and dress clothes on the main level and the women’s clothing on the basement level. They also sell medical uniforms and offer tuxedo rentals.

Hertling said there will be a handicapped accessible dressing room on the main floor.

He said while they have always been a destination store, he and his wife believe the move may open up a whole new set of customers for them.

“It’s actually kind of rejuvenated my wife and I,” he said.

He said they have been touched by the people who have called and offered to help in the move after the word got out. He said the business has given him the opportunity to make many friends.

“That’s the joyful part of the business,” Hertling said.

The couple has a target date to be downtown Nov. 1 and in the meantime has a moving sale taking place as they prepare to move with many spring and summer clothes “aggressively marked,” he said.