Top Stitch

I’ve been coming here regularly for the past 3 years since moving to the area. They’re not the friendliest people, but they generally know what they’re doing. Plus the shop is a 2-​minute walk from my place so it was very convenient for me.
I recently brought in some pants that I needed lengthened. The pants were previously hemmed by someone else and they were just a tad too short. Adding ¾″ or so would have made them perfect for me. No problem, I was told — they’d add a false hem and get the pants longer.
When I went to pick them up, I could see that the finished hemline was not straight. At first, she tried to argue with me and insist that it was straight. I had to line up the pants to the edge of the desk to show her that it was clearly NOT straight. Then she tried to explain it away by saying that she was just following the hem that was already there (the raw hemline from the previous alteration). I was flabbergasted. I mean — she is the tailor. Is it not normal for pant hems to be straight? Was I supposed to have given explicit instructions that I wanted the hem of the pants to be straight when I dropped off the alteration job? What kind of tailor is this?
I was not going to pay for the crooked hemline and she half-​heartedly told me to come back the next day, that she’d try to fix it. When I returned the next day, the pants were in their original state — she didn’t even attempt to do the job. I was so disappointed in her response, particularly since I had been a regular customer for all these years.
I just took them back and found another tailor — Townline Tailors on Howe. They are much more professional and well worth the little extra distance to get there. I took the same pants to them, and just in case, I asked them for re-​assurance that the hem would be straight. They looked at me like I was nuts and said of course it would be! I am now happily wearing my nice new pants with a straight hem.

Four months later …
I tried them again, after a friend had some good experiences. And, perfection, with no hassle, very reasonably priced, quick turn-​around. So, maybe last time was just a fluke …