Hammonds continue Marie's legacy

Brad Hammond and his wife UnHui reopened Marie's Tailor Shop - now called Marie's Alternations Too - on 1309 S. Lawson St. back in August.

After Hammond retired from the trucking profession, his wife UnHui asked if they could move to the Columbus, Ohio area to be closer to her sister. While they were there, the Hammonds found a dry cleaner for sale and UnHui wanted to try it. Hammond said he studied on how to run a dry cleaning business while the store's previous owner taught UnHui how to sew and alter clothes.

"After six months UnHui was teaching her (the previous owner) new things," Hammond said. "UnHui picks up stuff easily and she's meticulous."

The Hammonds ran two other dry cleaning businesses during their time in Ohio with customers coming as far as 75 miles away. They decided to move back to Washington when UnHui's mother's health started failing. They learned that the space that housed Marie's Tailor Shop was for rent.

"Marie passed away two years ago and we approached the owner and asked to rent it," Hammond said. "We asked him if we could name the store in honor of Marie."

The Hammonds focus on customer service. Their clients range from military personnel at Fairchild Air Force Base, to local community members. They alter suits, trousers, wedding dresses and uniforms. The turnaround for alterations is 2-3 days.

"We also repair zippers instead of replacing them," Hammond said. "Not a lot of places do that anymore."

Although the store is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., the Hammonds are willing to keep the store open after business hours or open their doors on a Sunday for an emergency.

"We do pretty much anything for customers," Hammond said. "Once I drove a pair of shirts and boots from Columbus to Cleveland. It was only 120 miles. I didn't make any money on it, but I made a friend out of it."

Hammond said he and his wife like the atmosphere of Airway Heights and hope they can "meld into it." Although they do what they can to attract business, money isn't the top priority for the Hammonds.

"It's not about money as much as it is about being a hometown-type of business," Hammond said. "If we can make a customer happy, then we've had a good day."

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].