By Karissa Hearn
People invest lots of time and effort into planning their special occasion, whether they are weddings, proms or black tie events. For men, choosing the perfect shirt, vest, tie and jacket out of a catalog can be a trick.
And shopping for attire at ChazMaTazz Formalwear can simplify the process.
ChazMaTazz Formalwear has serviced the Princeton area for over 16 years.
Chaz Roeleveld, store owner and Toms River native, has been working in men’s formalwear since he was 15 years old. He worked for two different formalwear stores and attributes “a great boss” to his interest in the industry.
Eventually, Roeleveld branched off on his own. With a tight budget, he started a shop-at-home formalwear service out of his car.
“That’s about all I could afford,” he said.
Today, he operates a store in Princeton Marketfair on U.S. 1 in Princeton. His store, ChazMaTazz Formalwear, specializes in tuxedo rentals and sales for weddings, proms and black tie events. They also offer uniforms, tailoring and formalwear accessories.
“And with that is our personalized service,” Roeleveld said.
When a customer enters ChazMaTazz, they are not handed a big booklet of male models in suit jackets and pages of square inch tie swatches.
“A lot of customers don’t understand there is better service,” Roeleveld said.
ChazMaTazz has the majority of their products on site, and allows customers to try on the different combinations before purchasing. The shelves are lined with mannequins sporting the different combinations and can be dressed in whatever the customer wishes to see.
As the spring approaches, Roeleveld is gearing up for the busy season, May and June. Having such a big inventory definitely comes in handy, Roeleveld said.
“Last minute, a girl changes her dress color,” he said of prom season, “it’s not a problem because we have all of the vests on hand.”
Often, ChazMaTazz Formalwear employees work around the clock this time of year.
“Most prom seasons we go one night a week without sleep,” Roeleveld said. He and his employees spend the rest of the night making sure that the suit production is executed. “We’re not a chain operation with 8-hour shift employees who just go home.”
ChazMaTazz currently has two employees, but during their busy season, Roeleveld has four or five employees on staff.
Shopping for formalwear at ChazMaTazz Formalwear provides customers with a unique and personally tailored experience, Roeleveld said.
“Those that go shopping and understand service will go here,” Roeleveld said.
ChazMaTazz Formalwear is located at 3535 U.S. 1 in the Princeton Marketfair plaza in Princeton. The store is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (609) 452-0921. On the Web: chazmatazz.com.
