Southern Gentleman

Saline County is a melting pot for many. With almost everything available within a short drive, the area is booming with business—including men’s clothing. A new generation of style is rising to meet demand, by creating looks that embody southern elegance and inspire confidence for every occasion, from a gameday tailgate to a boardroom meeting. 

Southern Gentleman, a premier, family-owned men’s retail store, opened its doors in Bryant in November 2024 and recently celebrated its first year of operation. Their shelves are stocked with items that share the commitment to longevity and timeless appeal. 

Wanting to bring southern style while also “blending refined class with a modern edge,” owners Cynthia Lira and Ronaldo Mondragon are smashing their goals and living out their dreams of providing a curated selection of apparel that is both refined and comfortable. 

“We wanted to bring quality men’s clothing to Arkansas,” Lira said. “Other than Dillard’s, there’s really not a lot. We wanted to bring brands that are still well known and good quality but aren’t at that price point you would see at luxury men’s stores.” 

Southern Gentleman carries many popular and well-known brands, including Duck Head, Local Boy, Southern Shirt Company, Smathers & Branson, Southern Tide, Johnnie-O, and GenTeal, to name a few. Because Southern Gentleman is still growing, they plan on bringing in more household name brands this upcoming year. 

With quality and longevity being the promise Southern Gentleman gives customers, they provide a variety of styles and sizes ranging from small to 3XL in tops and 30 to 36 inseams in bottoms. Southern Gentleman is still expanding their collection, now providing youth sizes! “We strive to provide the best experience for our customers, so when they started requesting youth, we knew we had to bring it in! Now we can even provide that son and dad combo,” Lira added. 

Southern Gentleman also offers a wide range of accessories. There is everything you can think of when it comes to the perfect gift for this upcoming holiday season. Handmade needlepoint belts, hats, key fobs, cologne, gun cases, luggage, and more are available. 

Despite only being in business for a year, Southern Gentleman has already caught the attention of the state, earning high achievements including being voted one of the Best Men’s Clothing Store by the readers of AY Magazine and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “We’ve made a bold statement in the retail industry by create viral looks that embody southern elegance and inspire confidence,” Lira added.

With high success thus far, Lira said Southern Gentleman is just getting started. 

Saline Boot Company will soon be a part of any boot lover’s collection. Lira explained, “Every southern gentleman needs a good pair of boots, and we want to provide that locally, so we created our own.” Lira and Mondragon designed each boot, which was then manufactured by the best artisans they could find. 

With quality still in mind, Lira and Mondragon wanted to ensure that the boots were created using traditional techniques, including being hand-made. Because they’ve received such positive feedback in-store and on social media, they’ve had to create a waitlist as these boots will be an exclusive drop with limited inventory.

Both owners are native to the Natural State, with Mondragon growing his roots in Hamburg and Lira in Saline County. This gives them the insight to understand what Arkansas needs. This makes their Bryant location ideal, since it is in the heart of Arkansas.

What’s more, Southern Gentleman is quickly gaining momentum in its mission to spread Southern fashion nationally. Gaining over 90,000 followers and counting in under a year across their social media, TikTok has been the driving tool, so that. Southern Gentleman is quickly becoming the one-stop-shop for men in Arkansas and across the country, receiving orders from coast to coast. You can check out their page and see several videos that have nearly a million views. “We are so grateful to have a nationwide customer base,” Lira expressed.

 Southern Gentleman is still in its early years, so expansion isn’t even a question. “We are planning on bringing in more brands, more locations, more everything! This is just the beginning,” Lira explained.

Beyond fashion, Southern Gentleman is proud to give back to the community. As active members in both the Greater Bryant Chamber and Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, it’s a priority to stay involved. “We actively donate to sponsor the Bryant High School athletic department, investing in the next generation of local talent and leadership,” explained Lira. Southern Gentlemen recently sponsored the defending state champions, the Bryant men’s basketball team, and provided the Bryant golf team with white Johnnie-O polos.

Southern Gentleman is located at the newly built shopping center, Market Center Place. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. To shop online, visit www.shopsoutherngent.com. 

“At Southern Gentleman, we’re more than a brand—we’re a lifestyle.”