1918
In his late teens, Carl Sterr I moves from Chillicothe, Ohio in search of a more prosperous environment and finds himself in Detroit, MI.
1920
Walking down Washington Ave in Downtown Detroit, Carl Sterr I becomes enamored with a clothing store display at The Harry Suffrin Shop. Immediately, there is a strong bond between the owner, Harry Suffrin, and Carl Sterr I.
1922
Carl Sterr I becomes the highest-grossing salesman, selling over $100,000 of menswear in one year. Dick Sterr, Carl’s son, is born.
1940
Dick Sterr, having not gone to war due to medical reasons, aspires to serve his country and the American economy by working for the railroad as a locomotive engineer. He also wants to spend time with his soon-to-be wife and family so he begins working for the Canadian Pacific Railroad as a car tracer.
1940
The Harry Suffrin Shop forges a new partnership with Hughes-Hatcher, leading the company to adopt a chain store philosophy. Carl Sterr I prefers a more personalized approach with his clients and parts ways with Suffrin. He seeks out a partner to build his own store.
1950
Carl Sterr I and Bill LeClair open the doors of LeClair Sterr in the GM Building. At 30 years of age, Dick Sterr starts to work in the family business and Carl Sterr II (Sterr) is born.
1950
The LeClaire Sterr partnership is dissolved and Carl Sterr I opens a new shop in Grosse Pointe, MI at 80 Kercheville on the Hill. Carl and his son, Dick, partner in the new store, Carl Sterr on the Hill.
1960
A directional change in stylization and design takes place. Natural shoulder clothing has an important role in this store, thus introducing Southwick, a manufacturer and designer from Massachusetts.
1970
Like his father, Sterr aspires to work for the railroad. While attending Michigan State, Sterr works as a brakeman on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The furthest thing from his mind is selling menswear.
1975
Carl Sterr I retires and passes the torch to his son, Dick.
1979
Sterr is riding the head end of an Amtrak passenger train between Houston and Oklahoma City and realizes, after two weeks of being away from home on an un-airconditioned diesel locomotive, that transient life is not for him. That day, during an unexpected break, he finds himself at a payphone ringing his father to see if there is room for him to work at the shop. Dick, excited beyond belief, asks Sterr when he will be home to start.
1980
Sterr goes on his first of many buying trips. He has the opportunity to speak and work directly with the manufacturers and designers in its showrooms. No longer is the career path just a family business but, now, something he finds passion and excitement in.
1982
Sterr sets out on his own, with his father’s blessing, to create a new store in Birmingham, MI with a strong influence from pioneer Ralph Lauren.
1985 – 2000
Sterr parts ways with some core name brands to further curate his own brand and style. Devin Muldoon (Doon) is born.
2000
Sterr moves his store to Downtown Birmingham on North Old Woodward Ave where his grandfather had originally wanted to establish Carl Sterr on the Hill. He begins to introduce and showcase luxe brands like Borrelli, Isaia, Ravazzolo, Brioni, Luciano Barbera, Lorenzini, and Sartoria Partenopea. This change helped him blend country Italian styles with English sartorial and American lifestyle designs.
2007
The financial crisis hits the USA, driving a significant change to business for Sterr. This causes him to seek luxury goods at a more affordable price while upholding his style and design point of view. Along with other businesses, he is merely holding on but weathering the storm and learning from the new economic environment.
2013
Doon graduates with a degree in multimedia and journalism focusing on photography. Just out of college, Doon makes his way into the financial incentive industry.
2015
Doon leaves the incentive industry and begins to expand his photography portfolio by shooting for small jewelry and clothing businesses.
2016 – 2017
Carl Sterr on the Hill switches gears and rebrands to Carl Sterr by Design. The shop becomes a more focused studio where Sterr downsizes ready-to-wear to small-batch luxe goods and more customized and made-to-measure clothing.
2017
Doon joins a large retailer and brings career experience and passion for menswear to the clothing industry.
2019
Doon relocates from California to Birmingham, MI. He walks through the Carl Sterr by Design doors, bringing a new perspective on merchandising, marketing, and client experience. Sterr and Doon sit down at a favorite local restaurant and discuss a new focus on lifestyle clothing, eventually leading to the new Sterr & Doon brand.
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic hits the globe. Sterr and Doon start building out the e-commerce platform for Sterr & Doon.
2021
Sterr and Doon continue to build its relationships with manufacturers and suppliers in dedication to the brick and mortar store and in preparation to launch the Sterr & Doon online experience.
2022
Carl Sterr by Design is rebranded under the new Sterr & Doon entity and includes an online experience to match the individualized service clients would see at a classic haberdashery. The style effortlessly evolves while honoring a timeless clothing perspective.
2024
Sterr & Doon develops its e-Commerce site and sterranddoon.com is born.
