Anthony's Tuxedos

The block of P Street between 33rd and 34th is one of the more quietly residential stretches in Georgetown, a cobblestone lane lined with painted brick row houses and not much foot traffic. Number 3237 sits there without fanfare: a narrow blue-grey facade, a modest hanging sign, and depending on the season, a wreath on the arched front door. Walk past without looking twice and you might take it for a private residence. Step inside and there is a fireplace, an antique desk near the front, and racks of black formal coats running the length of the room.

Ed Solomon works behind that antique desk. He and his wife Gerri opened the business in 1977, originally under the name Wedding Creations, renting bridesmaids dresses to bridal parties coming through Georgetown. Over the following decades they shifted focus, first adding wedding gowns, then moving steadily toward men’s formalwear as that became the shop’s clear strength. At some point the tuxedo side of the business grew large enough to earn its own name. The name Anthony’s, as the story goes, came from a family connection: the Solomons’ relatives on the West Coast ran a tuxedo shop, and the two families settled on a shared name. Ed’s daughter Hope now works the floor alongside him, and the two of them tend to handle fittings personally.

The inventory is substantial for a shop this size. The Solomons keep more than 400 tuxedos in stock, covering the full range of formal dress from a standard dinner jacket up through white tie and tails. Shirts, shoes, studs, cufflinks, and pocket squares are stocked as well, so a complete look can be assembled on a single visit. Suits and tuxedos are also available for purchase, not just rental, which sets the shop apart from most chains where buying is an afterthought.

The practical advantage that keeps people coming back is speed. Anthony’s can turn around a tuxedo rental in a single hour, and same-day service is routine rather than exceptional. That capability has made the shop a reliable fallback for men who discover late in the week, or on the morning of an event, that they have nothing suitable to wear. It has also made it a practical choice for out-of-town guests flying into Washington for a wedding or a State Department function: the shop takes advance reservations and can arrange delivery and pickup across the DC metro area, so the fitting happens before the flight lands rather than at the expense of travel time.

Hours run Monday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm most days, with Tuesday and Thursday extending to 6pm. Sunday the shop is closed. It is a small operation, so calling ahead before arriving with a wedding party is worth the two minutes it takes. The number is (202) 333-5762. Street parking on P Street and nearby Wisconsin is tight on most afternoons; a parking structure off M Street is the more reliable option for anyone driving in from outside the neighborhood.