Downtown Biz: Rex Cox Menswear

by Joanna McBride

If you think Mission and you think menswear, it’s impossible for your brain not to go directly to Rex Cox. Rightly so, considering that this is their 95th year in business.

Carlo Billinger and his family immigrated from Germany in 1956 and they came straight to Mission. He grew up in a boarding house on the corner of Murray and 1st Avenue and consequently spent his entire childhood down on Main Street.

It’s hard not to get nostalgic, being reminded of Mission’s past individuals and businesses that were once such an integral part of the downtown core - Toothy Lane from Lane’s Men and Ladies Store, the Jersey Lunch, the old Dairy Queen and of course, Rex Cox.

In 1979, Ted Buckle’s father made Carlo an offer to buy the business as a joint venture and he and Ted have owned it ever since.

Not many businesses can brag loyal and solid customers ranging over 3-4 generations. They have always been forward thinking with the clothing lines they carry and are known for their ability to talk most men into newer, more fashionable outfits.

“People have grown to trust us,” Carlo boasts. “We are the ones that they turn to for prom, first dates and weddings. We have grown up with the community just as much as they’ve grown up with us.”

Rex Cox has always prided themselves on working towards the betterment of our community. New businesses come and go, and there will always be a certain element of competition regardless of what you sell, but protectionism doesn’t help thread our neighbourhood together.
When asked how to get through difficult and challenging times, Carlo advises: "Hang on to the top part of the rope for as long as you can and if you have to come down, only come down by 1 notch. Keep the lines of communication open with your suppliers and your customers. Go extraordinary. Only concentrate on the positive. Work with the community and especially the people who are your customers in the community.