TOLEDO, Ohio — The Point Place area is mourning the loss of a beloved tailor.
Bill Szaroleta was the owner of Szar’s Mens Shop, a family business on Summit Street.
Szaroleta took over the shop from his father and continued the family tradition, selling and altering suits, and providing all manner of men's clothing to loyal customers. Suit coats in closets around the area still have the Szar’s Mens Shop label affixed to their lining.
According to his customers, he had a stellar reputation - for the type of business he operated, which was more than just a tailor’s shop.
“You’d go in there for a quick alteration and you’d leave an hour later. You caught up on what your kids were doing, what his kids were doing, how Suzie, his wife, was doing. It was a go-to social hub,” said customer Matt Snyder. “It was a coffee shop without the coffee.”
Nobody had anything bad to say about him - and they relied on Szaroleta - not just for his skills with a tape measure, scissors, and a sewing machine, but also for the comfort of having a trusted tailor.
“Everything about it just felt good, it slowed you down and you realized life is important. Take it one day at a time, take it one step at a time,” said Snyder. “If you didn't meet Bill, then you certainly missed out on a piece of what it means to be a great human being. You missed out on humanity at its finest.”
Szaroleta passed away on Wednesday, August 21.
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