Fashion conscious men now have another shopping option in the State College area.
A Men’s Wearhouse store is opening up in Trader Joe’s Plaza just off North Atherton Street.
Store employees have spent the past couple of days getting everything ship shape and the store is bursting at the seams with men’s apparel. A soft opening is planned for Wednesday morning.
Lining the walls are row after row of suits, sports coats and slacks. Tables are stacked high with piles of dress shirts. The stores also sells casual wear, including jeans, shorts and sweaters.
General Manager Nick Velasco says the State College market needs Men’s Wearhouse. Asked about competitors, Velasco says, “They don’t do what we do. We can appeal to the masses and really take care of everyone from little kids all the way up to big and tall sizes.”
According to Velasco, “It’s what we do as far as the customer service aspect of it, really giving them a hands on experience that they’re not used to.” Velasco says in a lot of stores you’re on your own but that’s not the case here. “At the Men’s Wearhouse it’s not set up for you to just wander on your own. There are specific things that we do to help a guy dress for whatever occasion he’s shopping for.
“It’s very hands on. We’re like your own personal shopper.”
The store carries many well-known brands including Calvin Klein, Jones New York, Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole and Ralph Lauren.
Men’s Wearhouse has been in business for over 40 years and operates more than 1,000 stores nationwide. The company boasts that it sells 20 percent of all the suits purchased in America.
George Zimmer, the company’s president, opened the first Men’s Wearhouse in Houston, Texas back in 1973. You may not recognize his name, but if you’ve seen the TV commercials you’ve watched Zimmer deliver his tradmark pitch line, “You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it.”
Customer service is key. “We have a tailor,” says Velasco. “We do all alterations on our items. We can alter jeans if necessary. We can alter shirts if necessary but we do everything in house.”
The store currently has five employees and will eventually hire up to five more. They’re looking for some part-time help and a full-time associate to handle tuxedos.
Over the past 15 years tuxedo rentals have become a big part of the business. Men’s Wearhouse says it rents out nearly three million tuxedos each year.
Velasco has been with Men’s Wearhouse for four years and says what he likes best is taking care of his customers. The store will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Velasco says with a smile, “Come see us.”
For more information about Men’s Wearhouse visit the company’s website by clicking HERE.
