Matt Hambleton and Jon Keske opened Caliber Custom Clothiers in Lima to fill the gap for tailored men’s suits.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — The art of custom suit-making is far from lost. Following the closing of the Hofeller, Hiatt and Clark men’s clothing store in 2023, CEO Matt Hambleton decided to open a new custom suit store in Lima. Hambleton contacted a long-term friend (and now marketing director) Jon Keske to make Caliber Custom Clothiers possible.
“Essentially my co-workers from my other job have been our guinea pigs for the last two years,” Hambleton said. “We wanted to perfect it. It started just for friends and family, then all of a sudden friends were calling people we had never heard of.”
To create the custom suits, customers are measured in-store and choose the fabric and design of their suits. The measurements are sent to another company where the custom suit is made. Caliber Custom Clothiers hopes to bring an option to the community for weddings, businessmen and more.
“We graduated from Shawnee High School in 2007,” Keske said. “He contacted me two and a half years ago about the idea; we wanted to provide something with a nicer quality.”
The business not only sells custom suits but ties, belts, shoes and leather goods.
“When Hofeller announced they were closing, we felt it was unfortunate Lima was not going to have a local place that specializes just in this,” Hambleton said. “There are a lot of women’s boutiques but men typically do not spend any money on their clothing. There are a lot of businesses in Lima and there was just no option when Hofeller shut down after all those years.”
The company hopes to provide custom men’s suits and a great experience.
“Aside from the quality, I would not offer something I wouldn’t wear myself,” Hambleton said. “I have been wearing these suits for years now. (The reaction of customers when picking up their suit) was a (good) consequence I was not prepared for.”
The store is open by appointment only at 2341 Spencerville Road, Lima. For more information call 855-222-5684 or visit caliberclothiers.com.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
