
Dress it up With Jimmy Suits on Gladstone
A nondescript structure with a nameless storefront – save for a signboard on 486 Gladstone Avenue, leads to Fine Men’s Clothing – Jimmy Suits. Inside lies one of Ottawa’s best-kept secrets: a compact store with racks of branded suits, rows of shirt-lined shelves, suit accessories on display and two fitting rooms. A wall-mounted TV above the counter plays FashionTV, while the ambience resonates with the latest beats of the radio. The sparsely adorned establishment is well-lit and spotless. During winter, a notice above a shoe rack just inside the entrance requests customers to slip out of their boots and into the Crocs provided to maintain the store’s cleanliness.
Enter Jimmy, the charming, affable and knowledgeable owner of Jimmy Suits, a suiting store in Ottawa that has been in business since 1997. Jimmy, who was born and raised in Montreal, delves into the history of the store. “My family was always in the wholesale clothing business in Montreal, and we also had a few retail clients in Ottawa in the ‘80s and ‘90s. When we began noticing a slight decline in the wholesale business in the late ‘90s, we decided to switch to retail, taking the wholesale product and selling it directly to the public at a better price point. We moved to Ottawa and tested the waters selling clothing on a small scale out of a restaurant on Bank Street that I owned back then. Once we determined a demand for our products in the market, we opened a brick-and-mortar store on Metcalfe Street before moving to our current location at Gladstone Avenue in December 2018,” narrates Jimmy.
Given Jimmy’s decades of experience in the formal menswear business, clients often saved his name as ‘Jimmy Suits’ on their phones. That stuck, giving the store its name.
A TIGHT SHIP AND TRENDING MENSWEAR
Jimmy Suits, today one of Ottawa’s leading retailers in designer menswear, is a family-run business managed by Jimmy and his wife, Liliane. Catering for business attire, weddings, galas, funerals and casual occasions, the store retails a wide variety of off-the-rack branded suits, blazers, tuxedos, jackets, overcoats, winter coats, peacoats and sweaters that change seasonally, keeping with trending styles, patterns and colours.
Brands carried by Jimmy Suits include Calvin Klein, DKNY, Horst, Michael Kors, Tallia, Klauss Boehler, Soul of London, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, as well as lesser-known labels. A full range of suit accessories are also available, including shirts, ties, belts, pocket squares, scarves, cufflinks, lapel pins, tie pins, tie clips, socks and a small selection of shoes.
Regarding the fabrics and designs that the store retails, Jimmy says, “We have 100 percent wool, wool blends and poly-viscose. We carry all three because of the varying price points. Poly viscose is great for a starter suit, and for the gentleman who doesn’t mind spending just a little more, we have 100 percent wool. In terms of styles, what is currently trending is the two-button jacket, two-button vented suits, two-button peak lapel and double-breasted suits. Navy, black and charcoal are the most popular suit colours because they can be worn all year round, although we stock an array of colours. Lighter colours are preferred in the spring and summer by our patrons.”
Jimmy says that during the pandemic, people were veering away from suits and a more casual look, and sportswear came into vogue. However, lately, Jimmy has seen the demand for formal suits coming back, especially given the federal government’s back-to-office mandate. That said, the sporty look remains popular, so Jimmy also stocks sneakers.
To ensure he is abreast of the latest trends, Jimmy attends prominent fashion shows such as the Chicago Collective and MAGIC Las Vegas. “I take some time off and attend shows six to eight months prior to each season and then book and buy for the upcoming season to ensure I have the new products available when customers come in asking for them,” he avers.
THE PERFECT FIT
Pre-pandemic, Jimmy Suits offered custom tailoring and custom fitting to clients. However, owing to prolonged delivery delays and sometimes the unavailability of fabrics, Jimmy switched to retailing ready-to-wear suits.
How does Jimmy ensure that every suit is a perfect fit? “Once customers make an appointment and come in for a fitting, I ask what they are looking for and the purpose of the suit, and then accordingly, I try to guide them in the best possible direction as to the choice of suit. This is followed by a complete fitting. I see how the suit looks on the individual and provide my professional recommendation based on the best fit for his body type. I also advise on tailoring or alterations, if required. I book 30 minutes for each customer; it usually takes less time, but sometimes it takes longer because I want to ensure the individual is comfortable with the fit. This is a small establishment with only two people, so we take two appointments every half an hour. If the customer is satisfied with the suit after the fitting, he takes it with him and is good to go,” Jimmy explains.
Jimmy Suits is a by-appointment-only store; walk-ins are not entertained. While the store is open from Monday to Saturday, there are no fixed timings since Jimmy tries to work around customer availability and convenience.
Jimmy Suits’ unique selling proposition lies in its competitive pricing policy, ensuring high quality and great value at the most affordable price point. Suits range from $200 to $600, taxes included, while shirts retail from $60 to $110 on average. Jimmy also offers significant discounts on accessories, and attractive packages that include a suit plus all the suit accessories. He also believes in passing on deals and discounts from his suppliers to his customers and guarantees rates that are significantly lower than big box retailers. No additional fitting charges apply.
The inexpensive price tag, personalized touch, wide range of trendy menswear, full fitting and dedicated customer service have led to loyal and repeat clientele that range from students and hockey players to corporate honchos, lawyers, realtors, business professionals and members of Parliament. Apart from Ottawa, Jimmy Suits has customers across Canada from the East Coast to the West, as well as regular clients who have moved to the US and Europe, to whom Jimmy ships suits. Some customers buy four or five suits at a time from Jimmy Suits, especially if they have to wear suits daily, while others come in to purchase the occasional wedding suit or to update their wardrobe. Whatever the reason, patrons know they are in capable hands. “Customers keep coming back, and we have been around for 28 years, so we must be doing something right,” Jimmy quips.
A HIDDEN GEM
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jimmy Suits was shut for almost nine months. Yet the business survived and bounced back thanks to loyal patrons who supported him. “Ottawa is one of the greatest cities in Canada. It has great people and a great atmosphere. You can’t ask for better,” remarks Jimmy.
On his part, Jimmy always strives to please. “Our commitment is to keep our customers satisfied and happy by offering a selection of high-quality designer menswear that fits their body type as well as their budget, keeping them up to date in style,” states Jimmy. He adds, “We don’t advertise – our business is purely through word of mouth. We also don’t do online sales due to a high turnover and, we only recently started an Instagram account. However, our customers advertise for us, and we have quite a lot of positive customer feedback on Reddit.”
While the store has remained largely unchanged in all these years, products are regularly refreshed to reflect the changes in fashion, and Jimmy stands by the quality assurance of his merchandise, which is always sourced from reputable brands.
Asked if he plans to open more stores, Jimmy resolutely shakes his head. “Not at all. I’m happy the way it is. We could easily expand and open 10 stores. However, I enjoy what I’m doing on a one-to-one basis, and I’d like to keep that personal touch and maintain Jimmy Suits as a family business,” he responds.
And what most appeals to Jimmy about this business? “I love fashion. I love making customers happy. It doesn’t feel like work because I enjoy it so much. The experience of running Jimmy Suits across the years has been absolutely beautiful.”
You can book an appointment with Jimmy Suits by calling 613-851-1317. Jimmy can also be reached at jimmysuits@gmail.com.
Photos: Beryl Menezes