I feel that I’m the keeper of the flame… I know that might sound a little grandiose, but, one of the things that always attracted me to this business is its sense of history— Corrado Cutlery began in 1905.

It was a very different time...

Just think about what the world was like in 1905… It’s like everything has changed. And it’s still changing… faster every day.

So many things have happened, a lot of them good—but I think some things have gotten lost along the way… like the commitment to quality, and integrity that was pretty standard in those days. You have to look a little harder to find that today, don’t you think?

The cutlery business is all about tools… think about the way things were made back… fifty-sixty years ago… versus now—there’s a difference.

Of course there are still some pretty good tools being made—that’s why I’m still in this business. I want to be a bridge between the digital, internet-driven world of today, and the care and quality that was so much a part of yesterday. My hope is to take this old business… lean on those deep roots… and make it relevant today.

When I think about my mission, I think about… core tools and core values. And in my mind… and in my store—they’re connected.

A good cutlery store sells tools that are an integral part of our everyday life. So much so that we take them for granted… Just think about slicing your bagel, or trimming your nails—or shaving, or dragging a comb across your head… maybe this morning you cut an article out of the paper—or maybe, like me, you find yourself needing a magnifying glass to read the fine print…

So my mission, and my business is to bring you these core items and at the same time… honor the history of those roots sunk deep in a time when you just did things the right way.

Good stuff—honestly presented.

Yes, of course, this is a business…. I need to sell things. I need to make a profit—but I need to do it in a fair way.

I want my customers to be here with me for a long time. One of the things that attracted me to this company in the first place was the fact that the Corrado’s never had their sales staff work on a commission. They never wanted them to spend more time with a customer looking at a $500 knife set, than with the person who’s shopping for a Swiss army toothpick. That’s how it was…and that’s how it still is.

Here, in this new version of the store… it may feel different, but let me tell you, the foundation is just as solid as if it were built in 1905—core products and core values.

If you want the best—we’ll have it for you. But we’re offering more than just expensive products… we’re offering the best quality, and the best value at EVERY price range. Will there be some inexpensive products? Definitely. Will there be junk? Definitely not.

Value and variety…

Here you’ll find scissors and nippers, hunting and pocket-knives, kitchen knives, magnifying glasses and Swiss army knives… plus a whole range of personal care products—like Pinaud-Clubman after shaves and colognes… a line that dates back to 1810. It’s the brand that just won’t die…because you won’t let it. And I appreciate that…

The great thing about offering well- made products is that selling them becomes a simple matter of telling you the truth. And I will. I promise.

So welcome to Corrado Cutlery - a store shaped by its history, and committed to core products and core values. My hope is that we’ll grow this business together – again…

As we say in Chicago: “shop early, shop often..”


All the best –

Jim Bilger