We hardly think about uniforms. If we do, we immediately think of them in terms of the people who wear them, the men and women who are part of organizations such as the police, emergency services, and security.  It makes sense, as these people are among the bravest and most dedicated workers society has, but rarely does one’s attention turn to those who provide the vital service of equipping these individuals. So when my work with Northside businesses led me to Lewis Uniform, a company making sure these men and women in uniform look their best every day on the job, I instantly wanted to put them in the spotlight.

During my visit to Lewis Uniform, I got the sense that the family has strong ties to the business and the Northside. The roots of Lewis Uniform date back to 1957, when then-owner Stuart Krupkin started selling uniforms as a department of his father’s haberdashery in Watertown, NY. Stuart moved the business to Syracuse in 1964; first starting at 708 N. Salina and then moving to 626 N. Salina Street once the building was restored. Betty Wiese, the current owner, started working for Stuart in 1991 as a part-time tailor. But it wasn’t until 1998, when Stuart needed emergency by-pass surgery, that Betty started to take over the business. Betty didn’t want to see her friend and boss lose his life’s work, so she quickly learned the business. She was able to keep accounts even when she couldn’t pay them (she credits Stuart with paying vendors on time), became a full-time manager, and made an offer when Stuart decided to retire in 2001.

Betty’s commitment to keeping the business going, her late husband’s involvement with the business association, and their son’s on-going efforts to expand and improve service are a testament to this being a true family endeavor. With Betty owning a Northside business, her late husband Rich became actively involved with the Greater North Salina Business Association. Serving as the organization’s president for several years, he was an advocate for improving the Northside business community. He was very well known in the neighborhood, went to every meeting in town to stay informed and volunteered often for the Weed and Seed Community Partnership. With their son Ben already leaving his own footprint on the business, there is no doubt Lewis Uniform will continue to succeed as a family-owned business on the Northside.

Lewis Uniform is a place that makes the uniform industry fun, casual and inviting. They treat their customers with the same quality, care and concern, and in return receive loyal customers who keep coming back. The small staff of five works hard to get to know everyone who walks through the door. They even highlight their accomplishments on “the wall”, a collage of stories collected over the years to pay tribute to customers, friends and family who were in the paper. Also adding to the fun atmosphere are the store’s mascots, Foster and EmJay. These adorable bearded dragons live on the counter and are a great distraction for kids, whose reward is a chance to pet them if they behave well.

Although the store has moved locations a few times, Lewis Uniform continues to be a staple of the Northside. Ben says neighbors love having them around, because there is always a police car parked in the lot! The store currently resides in the former Elk Lodge at 325 Butternut Street, which boasts a total of three floors and a beautiful mahogany bar in the center of the sales floor. With a total of 12,500 square feet, there is plenty of room to grow.

The business has already seen significant growth since moving into the new space. Ben continues to bring in new products, has expanded the leather and accessories department, and is an expert on body armor and gun accessories. Ben also brought the company up to speed technologically by acquiring a new computer inventory and sales system, which his good friend and co-worker Josh Whitworth has been instrumental in instituting. Currently, the store holds 30-40 accounts with 100 different vendors, and outfits individuals, companies and agencies in the Syracuse area and beyond. While the store has experimented with a diversity of uniforms in the past, from nursing scrubs to restaurant apparel, most of their clients come from the fire, police and public safety departments.

It’s pretty clear that Ben has a knack for the business. He is there every day managing the store with an informed yet casual attitude that translates well with customers. Ben’s laid back style also lends itself to some joking around, which means he wasn’t afraid to show me the picture of him fitting his entire body into one leg of the largest pair of pants I ever saw!  Although I don’t know much about the industry, I was fascinated as I watched Ben answering questions and attending to the customer’s every need. During my visit, every customer seemed pleased with the service. One customer, the Chief of the VA Hospital, repeatedly said thank you as he left the store. I later learned that the VA Hospital only recently became a customer. When the opportunity opened up for them to purchase uniforms locally, they heard from others that Lewis Uniform was the place to go. Word of mouth has long been an advertising tool for the business, knowing that if they leave customers satisfied and happy they will return the favor.

I find great comfort in knowing there are still people that take the phrase “family business” to heart. At Lewis Uniform, they care about their customers, about the Northside, and about each other. Whether they are helping you find the right size, adding custom embroidery, or simply lifting your spirits with a joke, it’s clear that this is a business that has your back. My short time there left me impressed, and now when I see a firefighter, police or public safety officer, I will also think about Lewis Uniform Company and all the hard work and care that goes into the family business.