Stephen Dean’s Tailors

Stephen is great. My Friend brought me here and I absolutely satisfied of my experience. Fair price, This small tailor shop earned only 5 star rating

On entering the place looks like a chaotic mass of clothes hanging everywhere. But there must be a method to the madness because he knows where everything is. I have had many items tailored here and was never disappointed. Time wise, quality of work, and cost, he’s just great.

Although the staff members were very kind, I am very disappointed with how my dress alterations turned out. I had read such good reviews and the rare bad reviews, but I thought that I would take the chance. My mother was weary when she saw the condition of the place and the tailor could barely pin needles through my dress, but I told her I read reviews and was very confident with these reviews. I should have listened to my mother.
I had my wedding dress altered here and it was a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. It took a total of 4 months to finish (which was actually just me giving up because I only had 1.5 weeks until the wedding) and multiple dress fittings. My wedding dress needed to be taken in maybe an inch on each side, but the most complex part was the beading on the outer layer that would need to be hand stitched back together (and this was factored into the price). We talked about how we would alter the dress with pins and everything during the initial consultation and over a month later, I had my first dress fitting. It seemed like the top of the dress was taken in, but it just stopped and the bottom half was untouched. I told the tailor about this and again, we repinned the bottom and this was to be completed. The next dress fitting, the butt of my dress seemed to «bubble» up like the tailor didn’t cut anything, but just pulled a thread across part of it. The tailor offered to steam it, but it was not a wrinkle issue so I asked them to fix this and finally the tailor agreed. During the next dress fitting, it just seemed like the tailor undid the thread and my dress was large on the bottom again. I was just fed up with asking the tailor to ACTUALLY ALTER my dress so I gave up and paid them because my dress just did not change in the 4 months it sat there and my wedding was coming up in the next week. My dress was also 1 inch too long and we talked about getting this hemmed in the beginning, but at a later time after the tailor finished taking my dress in. Since the tailor gave me 1.5 weeks before the wedding, I just had to buy unreasonably tall shoes and have my dress mop the ground at my wedding.
Overall, it was a time consuming dress to alter, but I think they owe it to their customers to do a good job and if they can’t/won’t, just tell customers so they can go elsewhere because this put me in the situation of having to find an emergency tailor, which is not cheap at all.
Luckily, I brought my dress to a family friend who works in the bridal dress alteration industry (who I should have just went to in the first place) and she explained what was done. The top was altered, but stopped and not tapered causing the bubbling on both the side of the dress and the butt of the dress. One side of the bottom of the dress was altered to make the dress smaller, but the other side was untouched to avoid having to restitch all of the beads that were on there. You could also tell because the beads were not placed back on the side that had alterations and some of the beads in the back were dangling by a thread (which I did ask the Stephen Dean tailor to restitch, but others were left dangling). The family friend recommended that I go back and get my money back because it’s not fair to pay money for something they did not do and then pay money for someone else to fix their work. (I did not do this because I’m Minnesota Nice, but I would never go back there or recommend it to anyone).
Do not go here if you want the job done right. They were not cheap for what they did to my dress, which was very minor alterations that my mother, who is an amature seamstress, could have done for me in less time. Also, you have to think about the additional cost that I had to pay someone else to actually have my dress altered the right way. In total, I could’ve just went to a better quality shop and had it done right and paid the same price.

Is it possible to give negative stars? I searched around a bit on Unilocal looking for a recommended tailor in the area and finally settled on Stephen Dean’s. On December 20 I brought in 2 pairs of khakis (identical size, just different color). I requested to bring in the waist, slim the pant legs a little and take an inch off the length. Seems standard, right? I was told that the pants would be complete on the following Tuesday.
I show up on the day he told me to come back and my clothes weren’t finished yet. In fact, he hadn’t even started working on them. His wife goes on to tell me, oh, he meant to come back January 2. First, that’s not even a Tuesday (when he originally told me to come back). Secondly, that’s not for another week and a half. I let it go because I wasn’t in immediate need to wear these pants. Stephen’s wife apologized and told me to come back any time on January 2.
On January 2 I showed up at 2 p.m. and my pants were still not done. They still hadn’t started working on them. He asks me to wait «10 minutes». I should have known that was a big huge red flag. Slowly the 10 minutes turned into over 30 minutes while other customers came and went. I talked to another customer that said he had been going to Stephen’s for over 30 years. So I thought, alright, this place must be pretty legit. When Stephen was finally done he had me try them on. The first pair fit well, he tailored them the way we talked about. The 2^nd pair, not so much. It didn’t appear that he brought in the waist at all or shortened the length quite as much.
The lighting wasn’t the best in the place and I was in a hurry to leave because I had been waiting forever and had to be somewhere, so I didn’t notice the worst parts until I got home later that night. Both pairs of pants had the absolute worst stitching/​hemming I’ve even seen before. The stitching on the bottom of the pants was done vertically and resembled the stitching on a football (no joke) as opposed to horizontally like every other pair of pants in the world. The stitching wasn’t even straight across the pants. It was extremely wavy. Also, on both pairs, you could see tiny holes at the very bottom of each leg where the previous stitches appeared to have been. To say I was was extremely disappointed was an understatement.
Needless to say, I will not be returning to Stephen Dean’s and I suggest you think twice about spending your money there.

I wish I could give this place negative stars. Having read all the reviews, I thought this was a reputable tailor. They LOST my $ 700 belly dance skirt! Not only did they lose it, they have no recollection of it even being in their store! I called a month and a half after I had brought it in to get hemmed, I got busy and was in no hurry to get it back, but then they had no idea what I was talking about. I even went into the store and showed them a picture… still, nothing. I thought after our phone conversations that they were hiding something, but after speaking to them in person, I’m pretty sure the Alzheimer’s has set in.
This was a personal item of mine that meant a lot to me and it hurts to think that it is gone. I am beyond livid, yet they have not even given me an apology! They just keep saying «I just don’t know??» I’m still in contact with them to try and get them to pay for it, but unfortunately I don’t have a receipt :(
It seems that if you need a quick hem, they’re good at that, but give them time, they seem to forget about things because they’re old. Their behavior and business ethic is unprofessional and unacceptable. DO NOT GO HERE!

I had a terrible experience with Stephen Dean specifically. Kudos to Linda who saved the day and my brand new one piece pants suit. I needed the hem shortened and the elastic in the back taken in to hold up the halter top. Brand new Ellen Tracy outfit. Never worn. Taking it on a big trip overseas for comfort w/​good looks.
The fitting was so fast, and I felt sloppily done. Red flag! Plus Stephen seemed to be distracted and not really caring about the outcome.
When I picked up a week later, the hems were different in the legs, the elastic was visible all the around the back w/​uneven stitching, the fabric had a small rip in the back where I believe he had used a razor blade. I could go on but don’t have time right now. Won’t return. Linda fixed everything and the rip didn’t show unless you really looked for it.
Unfortunate. Think people should know as the place was recommended by the seamstress at Colonial Cleaners.

Pockets in my men’s slacks were splitting and the bottom on each side. Took them in early Saturday afternoon and he asked if I would like to wait. $ 8 later and the pants were better than new and I was on my way!

Ok– admittedly I was a little nervous because the fitting itself took less than 20 seconds, and I picked up my dress the day before I leave for a wedding… but… this man is a genius. I took a bridesmaid dress in with all sorts of ruching, piping and delicate layers and he took several sizes in in less than two weeks. The dress is flawless– can’t even tell that any work was done on it. The cost was very reasonable, and Stephen is a really nice gentleman. Highly recommended! My only gripe is that I want to vacuum his carpet sooooooo bad. Stephen, if you read this, I’ll do it for free! I’ll bring in my vac next time I come in for a fitting, because I’m for sure giving you more of my business!

Stephen is great tailor. He altered two pairs of trousers for me in less than an hour and he charged me a very reasonable fee. I am so happy to have discovered such a gem right in my own neighborhood.

I almost hate to bring attention to my favorite tailor and hidden gem Stephen Dean, but he and his staff do top-​tier work on some of the nicest garments I’ve ever owned for an incredibly reasonable price. Because of Stephen, I never hesitate to take a risk on quality garments that need alternations, because he always does a flawless job.

Love! I stopped in on a Saturday morning to get a hem put in a new pair of suit pants. 10 minutes and $ 10 later there I was. I also asked the tailor to look at the new suit jacket on me to make sure it fit right, and he said I was good to go.
I also asked a lot of questions about having suits altered, and am going to be heading back with a way-​to-​big suit to get it altered and turned into a new slimmer suit, holler!
This place is just great. Get yourself there with those items that need alterations.

I’ve been going to Stephen Dean’s for a few years now and have had a variety of alterations done on my pants, shirts and suits & sport coats, and they always turn out well. It’s a friendly atmosphere and I was known by name after just a couple visits.
The prices are reasonable and turnaround times are typically a week, sometimes more if I bring him a lot of stuff or it’s a busy time. On one occasion I asked for a quicker turnaround (a few days) and he was able to accommodate me. A couple times he’s even offered to do a quick pant hem on the spot.

Great job, great price, just a bit slow. My gf and I just got married and needed a suit vest altered. Stephen was great with helping us get the right fit and definitely knows mens dress apparel very well. Only issue was it took a long time and was a bit sketchy about assuring us it would be done on time. Seems understandable I suppose trying to manage time time by yourself. The results were fantastic and very inexpensive. I think it was $ 15 for vest to be taken in. I would go back for sure, just don’t wait until last minute ;-).

I had an interview in less that 24 hours and was getting nervous that I wasn’t going to get my pants altered on time. I researched other tailors, and it looked hopeless to get my pants back in a timely manner. I was referred by my pet clinic, that was next door (Kenwood Pet Clinic) to go to Stephen Dean’s. Without question or hassle, in the middle of all his work, he took me in and altered my pants within a 10 minute wait! I hope they stay in business always, and I will always go to him! Thank you Stephen!

The employees at Stephen Deans are very friendly and the owner is a great guy. My dresses I’ve taken in have been done well, however my only problem with this tailor is that the hours are very inconvenient with my work schedule. I wish they were open an hour later on weekdays.

Oh, Stephen Dean, I really like you as a person, but your shop isn’t so close to where I live and I had to bring two of my three items back to get re-​done because they weren’t done so great the first time. Such a bummer.
I had some jeans hemmed and they were perfect! Thank you so much!
I had a coat that needed a new lining. At first glance, the work was perfect, but when I got home, I noticed that the bottom of the lining wasn’t attached to the hem, and it was an ugly sight. I took it back and he was very gracious when I asked him to correct the mistake.
When I picked up the coat, which was finally done well, I dropped off a dress to have the straps shortened. But again, when I picked it up, I noticed that my 10 year old niece would have done a better job. It was done y hand, and sort of done sort of on the fly. It looks OK in the front, but when you looked inside, it was massacred.
When I took it back to Mr. Dean, his face said it all. It was crap. He had it fixed right away.
In the future, I would happily take my jeans there to get shortened, everything else? I’d have to think twice.
For special occasion dresses, I’d suggest Studio One Eleven (who does all of the alterations for Monique Lhullier) in the 50^th and France Area. For other things, not jeans, try The Tailors on Vernon Avenue in Edina.

I brought my wedding dress here on the recommendation of a friend. At the wedding boutique they told me it would cost around $ 300 dollars to take in the hem and bustle of my dress and to reshape the top where it was loose. Stephen Dean did it for $ 75 and it looks perfect! They did exactly what I asked and it was ready a month later when I came back in to town to pick up. So glad I went there!

After seeing all the positive reviews on Unilocal,I was excited to finally take my pile of pants, jeans, and dresses that needed hemming to Stephen Dean’s. Disappointed is an understatement. I am not sure if I just caught them on a bad/​busy week, but I came back to pick up my pants almost a week after I was told they would be finished, and they still were not done. Two of pairs of pants came back too short. And one jacket that needs a zipper replaced is still at their shop… over two months later. They said they would call when they were finished and I still have yet to hear from them. I definitely will not be returning.

I am in one of those awkward Unilocaling positions: A) I really like this tailor. Dean and his crew are affordable and convenient to my house and professional and good at what they do (which for me has been lots of hems — I’m short! — but also altering drapes and my husband’s suit coats) and quick at getting the work done. Even though the basement location is a little scary, they actually have a decent little area where you can privately change clothes that’s much nicer than the busy dry cleaner where I used to get my tailoring done. And then there’s B) I don’t want the secret to get out so the place is overrun with Unilocalers, making it take twice as long to get my original-​hem jeans (at $ 11 a pop — $ 19 less than I used to pay) back. Oh well. I’ve already written it. I might as well hit «post.»

I had just moved to the area, and was relying on the good people of Unilocal to help me find a tailor. I needed a bridesmaid dressed taken in for an upcoming wedding.
I read Kathryn’s review below (or above?) and thought I would give Stephen Dean a shot. It was admittedly slightly difficult to locate, and upon first appearance, little more than a scary basement suite. There isn’t much to the place, but they sure do get the job done. Mr. Dean was super nice, and very efficient.
My dresses fit perfectly — and only $ 25 to have my dress taken in and have straps added. It was ready in one week.
One thing to note — he doesn’t take appointments, so plan ahead if you know you’ll need something tailored.