The Beginning
The Foursome was founded in 1935. It began as a small general clothing store located on Lake Street in Wayzata, Minnesota, a small city 12 miles west of downtown Minneapolis. The store was founded by four golf playing school teachers who named their business "The Foursome", in conjunction with their favorite pasttime. In 1952, the business moved into larger quarters in a remodeled grocery store at the intersection of Highways 12 and 101 in Wayzata.

The Engels
In 1955, Ron Engel and his wife Lucille moved from Waterloo Iowa to become part-owners of The Foursome. The business took on a true family flavor, with Ron selling and Lucille doing bookkeeping and alterations. In 1965, Ron and Lucille became sole owners of The Foursome. In 1969, after graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College, Ron and Lucille's son Gordy joined the family business and currently serves as the company's president.

In 1967 the business moved once more to a new enclosed mall in Wayzata, the BayCenter. Over the next several years the business began to expand with the addition of separate family stores. A Family Shoe Store was opened in 1970. In 1978, a Tall & Big Men's Store was opened, filling a void in the local clothing market for this segment of customers. In 1983, The Foursome Children's Store opened, carrying merchandise for infants through pre-teen children. In 1985, the addition of the Ladies Store completed the "Family Clothing and Shoes".

Today
The Foursome's five separate stores, Men's, Ladies, Children's, Tall & Big Men's and Family Shoes occupy over 30,000 square feet in the Wayzata Bay Center. The Foursome name has become synonymous with quality merchandise, large selections, and exceptional service. Over the years, the business has grown and kept pace with the changing times and the challenges of surviving as a small, family-owned specialty store.

The Foursome is recognized as one of the finest clothing retailers, not only in the Minneapolis area, but across the country. In 1976, Men's Wear Magazine voted The Foursome the BEST FAMILY CLOTHING STORE IN THE COUNTRY. The Foursome Formula has been written about in many local publications, including Corporate Report Minnesota in December of 1986. In 1998, DNR, a trade journal for men's fashion and retail, selected The Foursome as one of the top 30 specialty stores in the country. The Foursome has also been recognized again and again for it's tremendous community involvement.