After 50 years on the job, most people are looking at their retirement options. Not Albert Naber. This June, he’ll celebrate 50 years as a tailor and he has no plans to retire any time soon.
Albert and his wife, Antoinette own SCV Cleaners. Residents of Santa Clarita Valley for more than 30 years, the couple opened for business in 2007 and have become a go-to for anyone needing top-notch tailoring and dry cleaning, including scores of law enforcement and emergency personnel.
In addition to repairing clothes, Albert also excels at making clothes, such as several elegant, formal gowns he’s crafted recently.
A key to their success has been dedication to customer satisfaction.
“We treat customers with respect,” Antoinette said. “I never turn a customer away.”
Whereas most tailors starting out now have a basic understanding of the craft, Albert spent seven years in school, both in Bethlehem and Rome, learning both the basics and the finer points of tailoring. Originally from Jordan, Albert and Antoinette met in New York, and eventually moved to California. In the early 1970s, Albert opened a tailoring shop in West Los Angeles. The couple also owns Water Wheel Car Wash in Canyon Country.
Albert considers tailoring an art form, and points to today’s disposable culture as one reason for the declining presence of skilled tailors.
“Any suit can be fixed,” he said. “Ninety percent of any garments can be fixed.”
Along those lines, SCV Cleaners’ tailoring services include the ability to design and craft a wide variety of clothing.
In his work as a paramedic, Josh Becker of Canyon Country has been a repeat customer of SCV Cleaners.
“I always go to them. I’ll be like, ‘I need it today,’ and they’ll say ‘Okay, we can do that,’” he said. “They’ve always been super accommodating.”
After five decades of tailoring, Albert’s reasons for continuing to work are simple.
“I love this; it’s fun,” he said. “I see people looking nice, their clothes fitting good. (It’s rewarding) to see people happy.”
SCV Cleaners is located at 26547 Golden Valley Rd. (661-255-3678) and 27674 Newhall Ranch Rd. (661-288-1112). Their hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Golden Valley Road location, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Newhall Ranch Road location. For more information, visit www.scvcleaners.com.