When you start with nothing, it's hard to imagine that you have arrived as the consummate businessman and financial success.
That’s exactly the case with James Carter, owner of Empire Formal Menswear of 205 Trade Street, Greer, S.C.
Both his parents died while he was yet in high school in Cleveland, Ohio. He was charged with caring for himself and his 15-year-old younger brother.
Sadly, his dad was not a great saver and did not budget his affairs well.
So Carter had to scratch and claw from the beginning. He soon discovered the need to keep his day job while hustling side jobs all the time.
Thrift runs hand in hand with working hard and saving money. He worked two jobs and learned the thrifty ways by collecting quality garments from various thrift stores. Because he had an eye for quality merchandise, what he didn’t wear, he sold.
He salvaged genuine silk from men's neck ties and women’s dresses so he could make silk bow ties to sell to exclusive menswear stores.
Thrift stores also carried good quality tuxedos, blazers, and other suits.
Carter found a way to beat the system since China made all the silk and sold it only in large amounts. So, Carter found a way to recycle silk.
As a teenager, Carter saw how professional men dressed for work. Some of these big shots were smooth criminals in the Italian, Jewish, and Irish mobs. Others were professionals like accountants, salesmen, engineers, and attorneys. He carefully observed their shoes, socks, suits, blazers, and ties and learned from them.
Little did he realize at the time that he was slowly becoming a fashion expert.
He likes formal wear so much that he imitated successful men while still in high school.
Carter seemed naturally drawn to high-end restaurants where the rich gathered to eat and drink. He was enamored with that whole lifestyle of the rich and famous.
Fine food and high fashion were a natural fit. Not surprisingly, Carter became an executive chef and a hotel manager.
Often, one mob or another owned the fine restaurants where he invariably worked. It was no coincidence that patrons of high fashion also loved fine foods. He was in their circle. So, he often fraternized with such patrons and clients.
After graduating from high school, Carter did a stint in the military in 1982. After getting an honorable discharge, he went to a hospitality school and later managed an upscale hotel.
He also went to a culinary school and became a chef.
Some of his clients hired chefs to do all their cooking, but the Italians did their own cooking and hired servers.
Carter was working a gig in Gaffney, S. C., preparing steak diane, rack of lamb, cherry jubilee, and other specialty dishes when someone noticed him and called him the next day.
It turned out that the lady who called him had been in his kindergarten class. They had much to laugh about and reminisce.
Soon, Carter and Veronica became inseparable. The account and secret restaurant shopper became Veronica Belle-Carter in 1990.
Their daughter Taylor Patenaude was born in 1996.
In the early days a dishwasher graduated to the fryer and moved on to preparing salads to cooking.
Six servers lined up on a wall, lit cigarettes, spread napkins, and poured wine for ladies at dinner tables. That was how exclusive certain restaurants were.
When Carter entered the restaurant business, blacks were the top servers. They became recognized around town, and patrons often bought them dinner and drinks.
In the 1990s, older blacks were aged out. No young blacks were in the wings being groomed as servers and cooks.
The children of patrons, while still in college, started serving with an air of importance and entitlement. That spirit led to the demise of the professional servers.
The young, privileged men smoked and chatted with rich clients, blurring the line between servers and the upper class.
A third of the wait staff soon started leaving old restaurants to work for new restaurants just for the status of working at the newest restaurant in town.
The buddy-buddy rapport between popular bartenders and clients also blurred the line between the upper class and servers and led to an unexpected result: free drinks reduced profits for the bar and increased tips for bartenders.
Some likable bartenders became more important than the Maitre d’ in some restaurants.
Carter eventually landed a coveted spot as a Michelin executive chef and Larkin’s manager.
His big break was at hand.
Carter went into Men’s Wearhouse to pitch his silk bow ties to raise money for charity. The manager told him that he would have to speak to corporate about that, but he eventually offered him a job selling in his store. The manager loved his wardrobe.
Carter liked the way GQ displayed their suits on the floor. The manager of the store had often encouraged his salesmen to dress more formally like Carter.
One day a client asked Carter if he wanted to work for himself. Intrigued, he asked questions and that conversation led to his opening his own store in Fountain Inn.
The town of Fountain Inn agreed to waive his rent for several months until he could get well-established.
The town fathers even let Carter pay a discounted rent amount. The grand opening was in September 2012.
Joe Fox Live featured his store for 2 hours with repeated updates and cut-backs. One viewer liked an Armani suit on display at the store and asked to buy it while on air. That sale gave a boost to his business.
Other TV personalities like Maya Luis and Keith Morton promoted his business. Carter was in Fountain Inn for two years until the market died out for suits. His lease was also about to expire, so Carter asked his wife to start looking for another location.
In July of 2014, he moved to 205 Trade Street, Greer.
Carter rented the place for a few months until the owner decided to sell the property.
The owner and Carter agreed on the price and terms and Carter bought the place.
After 10 years of growth, Carter is ready for a second location at 110-E Rainbow Lake Road, Boiling Springs, SC. Carter can be reached at 864-334-6208.
Carter seems to be setting the pace for men's formal wear in the upstate.
Empire LTD Haberdashery now buys from manufacturers all over the world, from the UK, Italy, and China, which can replicate brands like Ralph Laurens and others.
Empire has a unique collection of suits, blazers, sports coats, hats, and ties.
Empire keeps advancing its brand and adjusting to current needs and tastes.
Carter now features two brands: Empire, hats, shoes, ties, and Empire formal menswear, navy blue blazers, formal attire, and tuxedos.
Empire continues to spearhead its prep academy in many ways, offering internships and apprenticeships.
Carter is ever on the cusp of the next big fashion initiative while carefully preserving much of the traditional formal wear.
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