Al's Formal Wear Mission Statement
Our mission is to meet and exceed our customer's expectations by delivering superior service and exceptional value through fashionable quality merchandise and motivated, friendly employees who perform with pride and dedication.
Company History
With just a love of formal wear and a big idea, Alan Gaylor, the real Al behind Al's Formal Wear, and his wife Lillian, started a tuxedo shop at 712 McKinney in downtown Houston, Texas in the 1950s. The shop had 1,000 square feet of space and a rent base of $200. At that time, a gentleman could be formally outfitted in a tuxedo for a total cost of only $5.95. From this one store, Mr. and Mrs. Gaylor went on to build the greatest family-owned formalwear outfitter in the southwest.
As the years went by, the business continued to grow under the Gaylors' hard work and direction. They successfully outfitted customers through many decades and fashion trends in the 50s, 60s, through the 90s and now the 2000s. Many of Al's Formal Wear customers have rented their prom and wedding tuxedos from us, as well as their tuxedos for their children and grandchildren's weddings.
Al's Formal Wear currently has over 100 stores located in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Colorado. Al's also has a wholesale division, Ascot Formal Wear, that supplies formalwear shops across the United States with tuxedos. Rounding out Al's services to consumers is CRDN of Houston, which specializes in restoring clothing and other fabric items damaged by fires and floods. More information can be found at www.crdnhouston.com.
After more than 50 years of building a tuxedo empire for his family, Mr. Gaylor turned over the presidency to his son Stuart in 2001. Since he took the reins, the company has continued to flourish. Al's is currently building more stores in new markets and has plans for many more in the near future.
On the morning of April 15, 2008, the man who set the standard for tuxedo rental left this earth a much better place. Alan Gaylor, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, turned what started as a dream into a tuxedo empire. He is best remembered for his generous nature and incredible zest for life. His life motto was "If you are going to do something, do it right!" Alan applied this to every aspect of his life and instilled the same attitude in his 4 children, and 12 grandchildren.
"Our business from day one was built on providing excellent customer service and quality merchandise at affordable prices, and we continue to build our business on this premise today," stated Mr. Gaylor.
Al’s Formal Wear has Al-ways dressed you better and Al-ways will!