Fairhill: Store Owner Mixes Clothing and Car Racing

From racing cars back in the day to now fitting men in suits, Fairhill store owner David Rosenblum holds a surprising history.

Through owning and operating Leo’s Apparel, located at 2705 Germantown Ave., Rosenblum and his wife Susan offer the area a store with quality clothing. Leo’s is an urban store that was opened in 1954 by Rosenblum’s father, Leo.

“We’re an icon in the North Philly community because we’ve been here for so long,” Rosenblum said.

The store specializes in dress outfits but also offers casual clothing for gentlemen and young men of all ages. The store is lined with merchandise like shoes, ties, hats and more accessories to complete an outfit. Before taking ownership of his father’s store, Rosenblum could once be found on racetracks across the country.

Racing professionally for over 35 years, he was part of the factory teams for big names like Mazda, Subaru and Volkswagen. He raced in various road racing series and earned multiple championships.

Not only did racing change Rosenblum’s life for the better, but it also gave him the chance to give back. To share with the community, Rosenblum started a program called Inner City Youth Racing.

The program gave high school students a chance to attend the races and be a part of the actual pit crew. It allowed students with good grades, attendance and an interest in the automotive world an opportunity to accompany him. Rosenblum and his wife helped introduce the students to a world of opportunities.

“Some of the kids have been success stories,” Susan said. “He took these kids from the city who didn’t even know how to order in a restaurant.”

Now with his magazine articles and photos hanging in plaques on the walls of Leo’s, Rosenblum has since retired from his racing days. He hopes the store will last the streets of Fairhill and continue to serve customers of all generations. Even though his job title has since changed, racing cars still holds a special place in him.

“I’m not going to work until I die,” Rosenblum said. “I’d rather race cars until I die.”