Iconic Cleveland Clothing Company Gets New Owner

CLEVELAND, TN, (WDEF)-They’ve been making suits here for over 130 years but last year Hardwick Clothes filed for bankruptcy.

However Allen Jones the founder of Check Into Cash is a fan of their jackets and stepped in to save the company.

This warehouse right now there are 48,000 suits, Jones says he wants to retain the 235 employees and possibly double it in the coming years.

"We’ve got to get the company bigger, its got too big of a footprint to survive with this 230 employees we want to get it up to around 500"

Jones a Cleveland native said the company’s survival means a lot to his community.

"It’s a great family, it’s a great tradition, a great staff and a great story to tell i think i can tell it, if i can get the story out, i think it will become successful"

Jones who is among  the 20 richest Tennesseans believes that US made products are what’s needed to boost the economy.

"Back to American made, people have to be willing to pay a better price for a better product and that’s what we plan to do, the basic plan is simple, better material better buttons, that’s it"

The company operates in a 175,000 sq foot facility off Old Tasso Road and Jones plans to keep it there.

Current CEO Tommy Hardwick will now step down and a new CEO is set to be appointed.

Hardwick is set to become the new chairman of the company’s board.