Josephine’s Tailors

Thanh (Josephine was her mother) is efficient and hardworking. She does a quick job on whatever you bring. Don’t take offense if she is brusk. It’s just the way she is!

Climb up the back stairs and you’re enveloped in a time capsule. That comforting old-​house smell. The blare of soap operas from a portable TV next to the sewing machine. Wood paneling and oddly colored carpet.
But tucked inside is a sweet lady who works with military efficiency and a no-​nonsense approach. I needed two pairs of pants hemmed. Not a big deal, but one of those errands you tend to put off because it’s a pain in the tush to get done. Arriving at Josephine’s I was ushered into a huge dressing room and taken care of in a jiffy (and slightly chided for not bringing the right shoes with me).
A few days later, my trousers are now wearable and the price was decent. The yester-​year vibe continues to completing the transaction: no credit cards. Only cash or check. I wrote a check, which felt both completely foreign and appropriate.