Local News

Suitables brings style back to downtown

EAST LIVERPOOL - Suitables, a men's full-service suit and formal wear shop which also offers bridal gowns, is ready to help men with their formal wear needs locally instead of them having to go out of town to shop.

The formal wear shop, which was opened and is owned by Cody Brightwell, formerly of Wellsville, now residing in Tampa, Florida, is operated and managed by his sister Chelsea DeCapio, the only clothing retailer in the downtown area.

Brightwell started out as a manager at the JCPenney formerly located in Calcutta. He relocated to Tampa when the retailer offered him a general manager position at a store there.

According to DeCapio when JCPenney, like many retailers, started struggling, Brightwell, seeing the need for men's formal wear, decided to venture out on his own and start his own business, which he has been operating since October 2024.

This past December, Brightwell returned to East Liverpool to visit family for the holidays and, according to DeCapio, he was brought downtown by his mother and saw how the area was growing and thought maybe he could open one of his shops downtown.

While driving through downtown he spotted the empty store front at 134 E. Fifth St. and reached out to one of the building’s owners, Jake Robinson. After checking the building out, he decided the location is what he was looking for and signed a lease. Robinson and Troy Chisom, who co-owns the building, prepared the interior of the building for the business working with the color scheme Brightwell wanted and kept the original brick wall inside.

The store opened for business on Aug. 1 and, according to DeCapio, business has been good for the new store.

Suitables offers men's suits and tuxedos for sale or rent along with T-shirts, dress shirts, ties, cummerbunds in a variety of patterns and colors, undergarments, shoes, pocket squares, belts, cuff links and bridal gowns, which are for sale only.

Suitables offers alterations on suits by taking measurements in store and sends the suit Tampa where the business has in-house seamstresses and tailors.

Bridal gowns will need to be purchased several months in advance to allow time for fittings and alterations. Once a bride decides on a gown, her measurements will be taken and based off those, the gown will be ordered in the size needed. Once the gown arrives, the bride will be able to try it on to see what, if any, alterations need to be made. If alterations are needed, the gown will be sent to the Tampa store, altered and returned.

Brightwell and DeCapio looked into the possibility of having an in-house seamstress at the East Liverpool location but were not able to locate one who could spare the time for it since many run their own alterations businesses. There are two seamstresses in Wellsville and Steubenville who have offered to take customers at their businesses if needed.

The store offers suits in a variety of styles and colors and carries suits by American designers Michael Kors and Kenneth Cole, which are available for rent.

The store is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

DeCapio noted that if needed during times the store is closed, customers can call and schedule a time outside of regular business hours. She noted that she doesn't want anyone to have to go out of town to purchase formal wear due to them not being able to come in during normal business hours, and having been a single working mother she understands it is not always easy to get into somewhere during regular business hours, so she is willing to work to accommodate a customer's needs.

Currently the only formal wear offered for women is the Suitables Collection of bridal gowns. There has been some consideration of carrying out a line of formal for homecoming, prom and bridesmaids, but that hasn't happened yet due to the concern of having a huge supply left over after homecoming season and not being able to sell it, DeCapio said.

The business is considering the possibly of online orders for gowns, which would allow customers to come into the shop and get measured and use measurements to purchase online, but no decision has been made on that yet as they are still looking at the options available. Currently those needing formal gowns such as bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groom or for homecoming, prom, or any other formal event can find something online or in a catalog and get measured at the business so they can order the right size.

The rentals are available for homecoming or any other event for which a suit or tuxedo may be needed and comes complete with the suit pants and jacket, dress shirt, pocket square and tie and shoes. They do not include the belt and socks, but those are available for purchase at the business.

The rental is priced at $199 plus tax and a $10 damage fee. Tuxedo rentals include cummerbunds. Rentals are for a one-week period.

The store also has a small assortment of jewelry including wedding bands available for purchase.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call 656-262-2818.