Wm. L. Chafe Sr. went into the trade of tailoring in 1929 and established his business in 1932 at 300 Water St.,  just a few doors down from its current location of 330 Water St. Set up as a made-to-measure clothing operation for gentlemen, it was a tough time to set up shop, as this was during the Great Depression. He hung a sign in his window that read ‘climb the stairs and save $10 off your suit’ so he wouldn’t have to leave his cutting table. At the time, custom suits would cost around $40, so this offer attracted a lot of new customers. After doing this for nearly 35 years he decided it was time to hang up his measuring tape and offered the business to his two sons and Wm L. Jr. ran the operation for the next 50 years. At the height of the custom made trade and uniforms section he would have employed 5-10 tailors and seamstresses to help him with all his orders. An institution that has stood the test of time is now being run by the original owner’s grandchildren, a sure sign that quality and service are fundamental in staying in business for over 90 years.