New custom suit shop debuts downtown

Tweeds, a custom suit and clothing store, has officially opened its doors in downtown St. Petersburg.

Located at 865 Central Ave., the showroom is in a 1,500-square-foot retail space on the ground floor of the Camden Central Apartments. Owner Donald Carlson said Tweeds is known for its custom clothing options, including men’s and women’s suits, sport coats and jeans, with suits starting at $1,850.

“If you’ve never done custom before, it’s a really cool experience,” said owner Donald Carlson. “Not only will it fit perfectly, but there are hundreds of fabric colors and patterns, and then you pick the lining, the buttons and the stitching. It brings your vision to life.”

Carlson comes from a family with a background in the dry cleaning business. After spending several years in that industry, Carlson sought a new venture and was inspired to start a custom clothing business during a road trip with his fiancée in 2019. Upon returning, he sold his car, bought a 16-foot box truck and converted it into a mobile suit shop in Sarasota. 

“For the first two and a half years, I was just kind of doing it myself: parking in downtown Sarasota, trying to get people to hear about us, knocking on doors and selling custom suits,” Carlson said. “Then, I decided I wanted to try to actually scale and grow the business.”

Since then, Carlson has opened a downtown Tampa location near Oxford Exchange; his third showroom, in St. Pete, opened June 27.

Tweeds owner Donald Carlson said the store primarily attracts clients through social media ads, billboards, word-of-mouth referrals and local events.

“This location is great for us because it’s right in the heart of downtown St. Pete,” said Carlson. “We’re just a few blocks off Beach Drive and we have a lot [of other businesses] in either direction of us, so we’re super excited to be here.”

Carlson said the clientele at Tweeds varies from business professionals to individuals preparing for weddings or special events. Carlson notes a shift in how people view dressing up, with more personal expression involved now compared to the past.

“Twenty years ago, you had to wear like a suit to work, and now it’s like much more of a decision to put on a suit rather than something you’re forced to do, so I think that allows for a lot more creativity and it makes it seem more special,” Carlson said.

 The store currently employs four style consultants, with some staff members transitioning between locations to manage client needs.

The Tweeds showroom accepts walk-ins Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays and Mondays are open by appointment only.