St. Pete Life Nov/Dec 2024

A Conversation With… Donald Carlson

Owner and Founder, Tweeds Custom Suits

BY MARCIA BIGGS

It’s the week after two massive hurricanes came barreling through Tampa Bay causing destruction and chaos, but Donald Carlson, resplendent in a dazzling blue suit, greets a visitor with enthusiasm and a broad smile. Despite the doom and gloom that otherwise prevails, Carlson is on a roll. In June, he opened his third Tweeds Custom Suits, a 1400-square foot boutique on a thriving block along Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg. Shortly after, he opened two locations in Baldwin Park (Orlando) and in the Naples Design District. Just one year ago, the energetic entrepreneur opened his first brick-and-mortar location in Sarasota; then a shop in Tampa.

Carlson’s journey started in 2019 with a dream of a mobile custom suit business. He designed and built a roving retail shop inside a 16-foot box truck, driving around downtown Sarasota with the truck essentially his business billboard. He would park at various high-traffic locations like Kahwa coffee and popular restaurants in hopes of attracting walk-up customers. It worked. Curious passersby would gaze in the back of the truck where Carlson was waiting and his business took off. But the city didn’t take kindly to his modus operandi, so he was able to rent parking space at a mall where he operated his business as a pop-up for more than two years.

“When I first opened Tweeds never did I ever imagine I would open a brick and mortar store,” Carlson admits. “The idea was always to be a mobile custom clothier and we still do that today, but the more I worked out of the truck I realized I needed a brick and mortar location, so I opened the first shop in downtown Sarasota.”

Now there are five Tweeds locations, each one uniquely designed to “suit” the residents of that location and staffed with professional style consultants. The location in St. Pete is a fun and relaxing sports theme, complete with a mini basketball court, velvet couches and a large mural of Carlson’s favorite athlete and inspiration, Magic Johnson.

Tweeds specializes in suits and shirts, but will also make custom jeans in fabrics of your choice. Wedding parties are a large part of his business, Carlson adds. All garments are crafted to the individual’s (men and women) taste, with a selection of hundreds of fabrics, inside linings, ties, pockets squares, and signature accents. A small selection of ready-to-wear suits and shirts are available for walk-ins. Style consultants Michael Jay and TJ Chillemi await customers at the St. Pete shop, helping you pick between a classic Glen plaid, a pinstripe or a window pane, all designed to fit perfectly and turn heads.

Tweeds Custom Suits is located at 865 Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. tweedssuitshop.com