Vincenzo Mercadante estimates he needs to sell just 50 suits to clear out his inventory before closing his beloved shop on Ste-Catherine Street East.
Mercadante has been the heart and soul of Select Men’s Wear, a men’s clothing store in Montreal’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood, for more than five decades, serving as a master tailor known for his expertise in hand-sewing and traditional tailoring techniques.
“My specialty is sewing by hand. It’s old-fashioned tailoring, but with fresh ideas,” he explained.
Mercadante’s journey into tailoring began in Italy when he was just 11 years old. Growing up in the village of Vezzara, he learned the craft through a combination of hands-on experience and formal training. After relocating to Montreal in 1963, he initially worked weekends at a local shop before buying it in 1975 and becoming its owner.
“When I started here, I was full of enthusiasm,” he recalled, reflecting on the close bonds he formed with his customers over the years. “The customers like me because I understand them. I listen to them.”
After several attempts to retire, Mercadante is now officially planning his departure. Once he clears out his remaining stock, he intends to shut down the store for good. “Nature tells us when to start and when to stop,” he said, revealing that he’s been contemplating this decision for more than a year and has slowly been informing his loyal clientele. “Nobody throws me out. I can stay as long as I want, but I really want to close. It’s a hard decision.”
Select Men’s Wear has stood at the corner of Théodore and Ste-Catherine East since 1952. The store is divided into two parts: the merchandise area in the front and a workshop in the back.
The shop’s final days are marked by a decor rich in history—sewing machines grouped on tables, handmade hats perched on mannequin heads, modern graphic T-shirts hanging beside classic suits, and denim bags filling the shelves. Mercadante even has his old blue tandem bike displayed in the window, adding a personal touch to the shop’s farewell.
Known for his precision with fabric and sizing, Mercadante also became renowned for building lasting relationships with his customers. Over the decades, Select Men’s Wear became a gathering place for families, friends, and travelers alike. “I have friends I never thought I had. They come here with smiles,” he said. “They stop by just to say hello.”
The store also hosted an annual “friendship” festival, a celebration that took place on the street outside, where Mercadante would gather people to enjoy food, music, and the sight of Fiat 500s parked outside.
Patrick Legault, general manager of the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve merchants’ association (SDC), recalled attending one of these parties about five years ago. “He brought some old Italian cars, and there was an opera singer. He was serving wine to the people. It was very nice to be there.”
Legault praised Mercadante for his kindness, humor, and the store’s timeless charm. “There’s a lot of old machines in there. You can feel the history,” he said, noting that such shops are becoming rare. “We don’t have stores like this anymore. That’s something slowly disappearing.”
As a longtime customer himself, Legault called Mercadante a true “artisan” of clothing. “If you go there, he’ll take measurements and do everything exactly right. The real deal,” he said.
Despite the end of his retail operations, Mercadante is committed to passing on his craft to the next generation of tailors. With skills such as using a three-way mirror, crafting hats, and operating a zipper machine, he remains eager to teach. In December 2024, he posted an invitation on Facebook to students within his network, inviting them to learn alongside him.
“I want them to feel the connection with the public,” he said. “Being a tailor is more than just sitting at a machine and sewing. It takes a lot of ideas, and we need younger blood.”
While Mercadante plans to close the shop in January, he assured his clients that his services will remain available. “I keep telling the customers, I’m going to keep the phone number for at least a year. If they need anything, I’m here for them. I’ll do it.”
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