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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Family pours hard work into tailor shop


The Figueroa family includes, clockwise from bottom right, Rosita, Elizabeth, Juanito, Rosa, Alex and Israel. 
 (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)

One Spokane family has brought its traditions and business to Spokane from Mexico.

Alex and Rosa Figueroa have been running their own tailor shop for about four years in Spokane.

But Don Juan’s Tailoring, Alterations and Tuxedo Rentals outgrew its old location on East Ermina Street and has now moved its six sewing machines to 2808 E. 30th Ave. on the South Hill.

The two offer alterations on everything from backpacks to business suits to family heirlooms and are branching out into tuxedo rentals.

They each grew up sewing. Alex started when he was 7 years old in his father’s shop in Tapachula, Mexico. Rosa learned from her parents and said that she used to go door to door selling her mother’s creations in Mexicali.

In fact, their shop is named after Rosa’s father, Juan.

Alex joked that many customers assume that he is Juan, but he promised Rosa’s father he would name the shop for his father-in-law.

“He was a good tailor,” Alex said.

Today, the two are excited for the new challenges of a shop on the South Hill.

They want to make sure that seniors get a discount when they come into the shop and offer them free delivery.

For everyone, they are offering same-day service.

The Figueroas, more than anything, want to give back to the community. Rosa loves the family atmosphere that Spokane has and said it reminds her of her own culture.

“The community has helped us a lot,” Rosa said.

The two are sending out postcards to their old customers on the North Side of town to let them know where they are and to thank them for their business.

“We don’t forget them and what they did for us,” Rosa said.

They also know that their customers appreciate honesty.

While construction was still taking place at their South Hill location, a woman came in with brand new clothes that she had been hanging onto for a couple of years.

When Rosa told her only a couple of items needed alterations, the woman was ecstatic.

“She hugged me,” Rosa said. “I like to be honest. I don’t like to take advantage.”

“It’s amazing how people help when you are honest,” Alex said.

Alex and Rosa credit a lot of their success to their faith in God.

“When things go bad, we keep in faith,” Rosa said. “God wants us to work hard.”

They are teaching their work ethic to their children, Rosita, Elizabeth, and their twins, Juan and Israel.

Rosita likes to help her mother take pins out of clothes, and Elizabeth likes to talk to the customers and asks them to ring the bell to announce their arrival.

The family knows that hard work is important, but family time is the key to a full life. The family spends their Sundays together when the shop is closed.

“As a mom, it’s good quality time with the kids,” Rosa said. She finds that the kids are well behaved when they spend that time with them and that behavior carries over to the rest of the week when they are busy sewing.

The new location opened on Monday, and the two are busy making sure they thank their old friends for their success.

“Thanks to the community, we are where we are,” Rosa said.