Fire Halts Group Providing Suits To Men Overcoming Adversity

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A shop providing help to men looking for jobs won't be doing business for a while.

Mike Schuh reports a fire has brought the good works at Sharp Dressed Man to a halt.

Around Christmas, WJZ showed you Sharp Dressed Man.

It's the only place in the country giving away custom and high-end suits to men overcoming drugs, alcohol or prison--men like John, who did not look this good after spending 30 years behind bars, and needed a suit for a job interview.

"They dressed me for that occasion and I actually nailed the job," he said.

This is brainchild of tailor Christopher Schaffer.

"Because they look at themselves in a different way and then that sort of triggers something for them. It's like, who could you be?' said Schaffer.

After our story aired, men lined up in the rain and 220 got suits one weekend; 100 the next.

That includes David Boone. It took him 41 years to kick heroin.

Schuh: "How long have you been clean?"

Boone: "Six months now."

Schuh: "How's it feel?"

Boone: "Great! I feel like Tony the Tiger. I feel great."

But now the dream for other men is delayed. A tiny electrical fire on Tuesday led firefighters to find that the main beam holding up the building is cracked.

The city was there to document the damage, and Sharp Dressed Man is suddenly out of luck and closed.

"We've been serving 30 men a week for the last three months," Executive Director Jenny Klump said. "We've suited over 600 guys since December."

Repairs are expensive. They're looking for a new spot nearby, as they know what's inside the store can change what's inside a person.

"I went from David Boone to Mr. Boone. I feel good about myself," Boone said.

Learn more about Sharp Dressed Man HERE.