KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Michael’s Fine Clothing for Men has been a Kansas City staple at the corner of 18th and Main Street since it opened in 1905.
Since then hundreds of thousands of people have walked passed it, but something they likely never knew was that inside those walls is home to a Chiefs memorabilia collection 50 years in the making.
"I was 15 years old back in 1970, these guys were my heroes and growing up they all shopped here,” said Owner of Michael’s Fine Clothing for Men, Keith Novorr, who described his father bringing home autographs, pictures and footballs, to name a few.
All of which were kept safe under lock and key in a fire proof safe older than the store itself.
"This is from Coach Hank Stram, Dear Howard, which was my uncle..." Novorr read from the handwritten letter sent to the store as a thank you for the John B Stetson Open Road hats Michael's Fine Clothing gifted the team in 1970, after winning Super Bowl IV.
"That was a big deal in it's day," Novorr explained. "You gotta realize, back in the day, everybody wore a suit, coat and if you look at all the old movies, everybody wore a hat."
From thank-you notes straight from the desk of legends like AFL announcer Curt Gowdy and then Chiefs Manager Jack Steadman, to Polaroid's of almost every starting player that season, many of whom had to work at least two other jobs to make ends meet.
"And at the time, it was where anybody who walked through that door was welcomed and you'll have to remember it was the 1960s," Novorr said. "I didn't think I would see this day coming, that they would obtain the goal of going back to the Super Bowl."
