History

Neil Pitt (b1931) opened Neil Pitt’s Menswear at 123 Charles St in Launceston in 1949. His brother Donald joined him soon afterwards and they were later joined by their younger brother Brian.

The shop grew steadily in Charles Street to the point where they outgrew the store. Around the same time television had arrived and patronage at movie theatres around the city were in decline. The Majestic Theatre at 76 Brisbane St closed as a movie theatre in 1969 and Neil and Don purchased it in November of that year. After an extensive renovation of the building, Neil Pitt’s opened their menswear store in the Majestic Theatre in October 1970. At the time it had cutting-edge retail design, a café, a solid reputation for great service and top brands. It was a phenomenon.

Neil was elected to State Parliament 1972-1976, and was a Launceston City Council Alderman for many years. Sadly, he passed away in 1996. Don and Brian ran the store over the next 30 years. Brian retired in the early 2000s. Don, who is now 90, still runs the store and works there six days a week, as he always has done.

Although the retail environment is fast changing, Neil Pitt’s continues to provide great personal service and quality menswear to its customers.