Longtime, iconic store in Clinton County has new owners, a new name and new ideas
Two weeks in as the new owners of a longtime Trenton business, Jessica (Jacober) and Paolo Guazzini are still settling into their new roles.
The Guazzinis officially became the new owners of Jim’s Suits & Tuxedos, located at 13 W. Broadway, Trenton, on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
The couple will continue the tradition of helping customers prepare for their big events.
The services provided by Jim’s are needed here, said Jessica.
“A lot of people don’t want to have to go over to O’Fallon or Fairview Heights” to buy suits or to rent a tux, according to Jessica. They’d rather stay and shop local.
In addition to suit/tux sales and rentals, the shop carries a wide variety of spiritwear for the Wesclin school district.
I was pretty happy to see that. I am, after all, an alum.
Other services they will continue to offer include custom embroidery, alterations and dry cleaning.
But with new owners come new ideas.
Making plans
The couple already changed the name of the business. No longer Jim’s Men’s and Boys’ Shop, the name is now Jim’s Suits & Tuxedos, which is more inclusive.
Anyone can wear a suit or a tux, according to Jessica. It’s not just for men and boys.
True enough. Back in the 1990s one of my friends rocked a tux for our senior prom. And she looked fabulous!
They kept “Jim’s” in the name because people have and will probably always refer to the shop as “Jim’s.” It’s tradition, said Jessica.
But they will keep the well-known sign.
Jessica and Paolo want to update the retail space at the front of the store and make it more of a general store.
Jessica said they want to add modern fixtures and displays.
They plan to carry a variety of retail items from local and regional vendors, supporting fellow small businesses. Items would include candles, soaps, books and more personal gift items for milestone occasions.
Customers will be able to find gifts suitable for graduations, births, weddings and engagements.
Brides and Grooms coming to the shop for outfit planning will be able to find gifts for their wedding parties.
Don’t worry, Wesclin Warrior gear will always be available at Jim’s.
Jessica and Paolo hope the new retail area will be ready this fall.
Of course, suits and tuxedos will still be a big part of the business.
The Guazzinis consider themselves lucky to have the space at the back of the shop for that part of the business.
This space, the consultation area, will be updated.
Jessica and Paolo want to make this area more comfortable and inviting for “nearlyweds” and wedding parties during fittings and socializing.
Paolo said they get to keep the tuxedo displays that were already in the shop. Being able to see the different suits and accessories in person makes a big difference when making selections for events.
A storage room at the back will eventually be converted to a sitting area with spacious dressing rooms.
A former retail area will become an inventory room for online sales. Jessica called this “Phase 6” of their plans.
Over time, structural updates will include small renovations.
The building “has a lot of charm,” said Paolo.
The Guazzinis want to keep the character of the original building and bring out the features currently hidden beneath the surface.
I’m told there’s a gorgeous staircase on the side of the building that’s currently blocked off and hidden by a door. I hope I get to see that sometime.
The next generation of Jim’s
So how did the Guazzinis come to own Jim’s?
“We’ve known the Jacober family for years,” said former Jim’s owner Mark Lockowitz in a phone interview.
Mark and his wife Barb, who also participated in the phone interview, owned the business from 1988 until their retirement this year.
When Jessica was young, she knew the Lockowitzes’ daughter Morgan. Mark was their soccer coach.
As the Lockowitzes prepared to retire, they had a conversation about changing the ownership of the store to the Guazzinis, said Mark.
Jessica said that as they talked, “serendipitous details” kept cropping up, making it feel like buying the business was the right thing to do.
Shared birthdays in the families, the guys being left-handed and other small subtleties were taken as signs that they could do this.
The opportunity presented itself, according to the young couple. They spoke more with the Lockowitzes, to their family, to members of the community.
After a span of 35 years, of course there were a lot of changes, according to Mark, including a flexibility in the goods and services provided as needs changed.
Some of the changes during their tenure at Jim’s included bringing in women’s clothing, new vendors, Wesclin spiritwear and modern styles in tuxedo wear.
Owning and running a business is a learning curve for the Guazzinis. The Lockowitzes are helping them adjust to their new roles.
Barb said she is “happy for someone to move forward with what we’ve taken pride in over the years.”
The Guazzinis also have the blessing of the Davis family, who originally opened the shop a century ago.
“Glad to see the business still going that my grandfather Leo Davis started in the early 1900s. Passed down to my Uncle Jim Davis then to my dad Allan Davis, and to my brother Larry Davis,” wrote Jerry Davis in a comment to a Feb. 1 Facebook video post announcing the new ownership.
It was “special for us to see on the first day,” said Jessica.
Coming home
Prior to becoming business owners, the Guazzinis lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
Paolo was a middle school Spanish teacher. Jessica was a fundraiser at Vanderbilt University.
After the birth of their second child in October 2021, Paolo campaigned to move closer to family. Should they move to Miami, Florida, where Paolo’s from, or to Trenton, Jessica’s hometown?
They moved to Trenton in August to be near Jessica’s family. The young couple wanted to slow down and raise their young family.
“But then we bought a business,” said Jessica.
She said it’s an opportunity to build something of their own, be their own bosses and contribute to their community.
Paolo said their location in the center of an active business district is ideal. Everything is here in one place.
The shop is among businesses that include Trenton Floral Designs, Press Coffee and Tea, 7 West Bar & Grill, Urban Stitch Boutique and Trenton House.
Along Broadway, people can shop, get coffee, drinks, lunch or dinner. Jim’s Suits & Tuxedos can be a part of that activity.
“I’m excited to give more life to the main street,” said Jessica.
About Jim’s Suits & Tuxedos
Paolo said it’s cool to hear the stories of multiple generations that came to the shop and how Jim’s did their weddings and proms. The families still come to the shop.
The couple wants to include a display of Jim’s memorabilia to pay homage to the business and the family that started it.
The store at 13 W. Broadway first opened as the Davis Family Clothing Store in 1922.
Owned by Leo Davis, the small store provided “quality clothing and accessories for men and boys,” according to the Jim’s website.
After Leo’s death in 1954, the business was taken over by his son, Jim Davis, who renamed it Jim’s Men’s and Boys’ Shop.
Jim and his brother Allan ran the store from there.
In 1964, Jim and his wife Betty opened Jim’s Formal Wear on East Broadway in Trenton.
Allan and his family continued to run Jim’s Men’s and Boys’ as a separate business until 1988 when it was sold to Mark and Barb Lockowitz.
The Lockowitzes retired after 35 years, passing the torch to Jessica and Paolo.
Today, Jim’s Formal Wear serves more than 5,000 shops – menswear, bridal stores and other formal wear retailers, including Jim’s Suits & Tuxedos.
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Jim’s Suits & Tuxedos is located at 13 W. Broadway in Trenton.
Hours are currently 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. They are closed Tuesday and Sunday.
For more information about Jim’s, call 618-224-9322 or visit jimstrenton.com.
This story was originally published February 10, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
