Alteration Services

What happens to the alteration side of the business as a result of selling our building?

The majority of that business is being referred to other tailor shops that we’ve been sending clients to for the last several years, such as Tailors on Blake and Sew Biz which are owned and operated by alumni of Top Shelf. We stopped accepting retail alterations a few years ago and directed clients to these shops and have heard nothing except good things about them. There are a few other tailor shops we can also recommend.

The work we’ve done maintaining the many suits we’ve created through the ups and downs of weight gain and loss, and changing styles will have to be done elsewhere.  That might change once the dust settles but in the short term we have to stop taking in this work. We’ve always charged what we felt was necessary to do jobs properly to preserve the value of high-quality garments. Some work might be considered basic and can be done well in different shops, but artisanal tailors who do truly beautiful work are disappearing rapidly and not being replaced. This is a global problem. It’s not an easy occupation to learn, apprenticeships are not common, and the pay scale wouldn’t satisfy most people who want to live the American dream. There has to be a passion to do this work and not jump ship for a higher paying job. We’re proud that every single tailor who has worked full time at Top Shelf has been paid a generous wage, full boat health care, and many fringe benefits.

Tailors on Blake

Tailors on Blake is run by Sharon Terry, who is an alumni of Top Shelf, trained at one of the best tailoring schools in the state, and has owned Tailors on Blake for 30 years. They are located in St. Louis Park. Besides specializing in both men’s and women’s  alterations, she also does monogramming. Her address is: 5706 W. 36th St., St.Louis Park, MN 55406 / 952-933-6585  http://www.tailor-minneapolis.com/

Sew Biz

Sew Biz is anonther excellent alternative for tailoring services that specializes in men’s and women’s alterations. Owned by Laurine Lewis, another Top Shelf alum, she has been in business since 1983, and along with her husband Steve does high quality work and is located in the Baker Building in downtown Minneapolis at 706 2nd Ave S,  Minneapolis 55402 / (612) 332-6364  https://www.facebook.com/threadiva/

Irina’s Stitch in Time

Irina’s Stitch in Time specializes in dressmaking and alterations. The owner Irina Boiar is an experienced Russian trained seamstress. She is located almost directly across the street from Top Shelf. Her address is: 3021 Lyndale Ave S., Mpls, MN 55408 / (612) 822-4744