Front Lines

FRONTLINES Three Years And Sewing Suits This Erie Street Shop To A Tee

The Suit Shop Co. Ltd., 593 Erie Street East, Windsor, held its third annual “Anniversary and Sale Event” on the evenings of February 7 and 8 with over 100 coming out to show their support. “A very warm, heartfelt thank you to all my clients over the last three years who have each played a key role in my success,” expresses Owner Lazaros Dimitriou. “Thank you for your support, thank you for your business and most importantly, thank you for having the trust in me to make you look your best, either on your wedding day or just another day at the office.”

The shop features a wide selection of men’s formal wear, including: top quality suits, pants, tuxedos, jackets, coats, shirts, ties, pocket squares and accessories. Dimitriou also offers custom suits and made-to-measure shirts. (Visit: TheSuitShopCo.com) Dimitriou believes his key to success is “Taking time to listen to my clients’ needs and educating them on their garment — its construction and craftsmanship. I want my customer to feel reassured they are getting a fine quality garment tailored to their body — so they are confident in knowing they look good and are well dressed. I believe that my love and passion, my attention to detail and my willingness to offer the best service and retail experience in town, is really evident to all my clients.”

Dimitriou celebrated this passion for fashion in style with the two-day anniversary event, featuring snacks, music, cocktails and 30 percent off all merchandise in stock.

Enjoying the Saturday night festivities (photo at left by Julianna Bonnett) were: Dr. John Pispidikis, Spinal Recovery Center of Warren, Michigan; Sam Theocharis, Retired Police Chief from Stratford; Lazaros Dimitriou, Owner of The Suit Shop Co. Ltd.; Makarios Manuel, Owner of London Music Hall and John Davakos, Owner of London Denture Clinic & Hearing Care.

And after all the shopping was done, when guests craved something sweet at the anniversary party, Sottozero Catering made all their ice cream dreams come true! Owners Lisa Constante and Giovanni Arcuri (in photo above), were on hand scooping out many flavours of Artisan Gelato, such as Pistachio, French Vanilla and Coffee Bean. Biz X magazine is very proud of how well Dimitriou has done since earning the 2017 “Finest Place For Business Attire” Award. Cheers to many more years of success!

Store Manager Shalem Thompson and Bliss Skateboard Shop owner Sasha Senior, prepare to officially open the Sandwich Street business in March. Photo by Dave Hall.

Filling an equipment void for a fastgrowing sport, Olde Sandwich Towne’s Bliss Skateboard Shop in expected to open for business on March 20, 2020.

Located at 3216 Sandwich Street, the shop will sell skateboards, t-shirts, wheels and many other accessories for the avid skateboarder.

“There’s really been nowhere else you can go that specializes in skateboard products and I think it’s the right time to do something for skateboarders,” says owner Sasha Senior, an experienced skateboarder herself.

Senior started skateboarding at age 13 and has been doing it ever since, in her spare time. “It’s one of the few sports you can do on your own,” she states. “It’s great with other people, but you can do it solo and still have a lot of fun.”

Senior hopes her store will be a gathering spot for area skateboarders even when they’re not looking to buy anything.

“It can be a place to hang out, talk to other skateboarders, get information on competitions and just generally connect with people sharing the same interests,” she adds. Shalem Thompson, another skateboarder, will manage the store on a daily basis.

“I’ve been skateboarding since I was 12 and I fell in love with it,” he comments. “So this is going to be a great job and a great store for anyone interested in skateboarding.”

The name of the business came from Senior’s friend, Mario Notice, a professional skateboarder on the Jamaica Skateboard Federation team and the artist who painted the “WAR Bear” (a grizzly bear wearing a military helmet) hanging on the shop’s wall. “Bliss” was appropriate as it appeals to both male and female customers and Senior “believes every skater is happy at some point when they skate. When they land that trick they’ve been working on they get that snippet of happiness and that moment is bliss.”

With a skateboard park just minutes away in Atkinson Park, Senior feels her location is perfectly positioned to draw in customers.

Senior, who works fulltime as a Human Resources Administrator for the Canadian Army Reserve at F.A. Tilston Armoury (just up the street from the shop), informs Biz X her store will likely be open six days a week in the spring and summer months and five days a week in the off-season.

“The neighbourhood has been very welcoming already,” Senior points out. “I think they’re very receptive and encouraged that we were able to fill a vacant storefront so quickly.”

Senior had been looking for a location for a few months and spotted an ad on Kijiji. The ad had only been up for about 25 minutes when she decided to go for it. Previously occupied by Lowend Co. — a Windsor vintage clothing store, which has relocated downtown to 365 Pelissier Street — the skateboard store is located in the heart of Sandwich Towne.

Owners of Lowend had started a signature wall, which customers were invited to sign and Senior is going to continue doing the same.

“It’s a great idea and we’re not painting it over,” she notes.

More information on this new biz can be found on: Facebook.com/BlissSk8Shop.