Immortalizing the Style of a Gentleman

What can an outfit say about a person? Matching socks to his tie and sporting authentic baseball cufflinks, David Guenther is a man who knows how to complement colors and add his own unique style to professional menswear. David started in retail at age 17 and worked his way up to running six stores by his early 20’s. The day he was planning to resign to begin an anticipated career in law enforcement, happened to be the same day his boss offered to sell him the business! He took a leap of faith and bought the Valencia store, changing the name to J. David’s Custom Clothiers and transforming it into a designer men’s clothing store focused on customer service. Now with 35 years under his belt in the finer clothing industry, David has created an all-inclusive experience beyond just purchasing apparel.
By looking at the whole picture from the customer’s perspective, David strives to combine doing business while also expressing gratitude as the recipient of someone’s hard-earned money. “There’s nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and those who consider price only are this man’s lawful prey,” David recited as his business-life mantra. Originally written by 19th century social reformer John Ruskin, this common principal in purchasing still rings true for David whose exuberance and talent in trade go hand in hand with a customer-first mentality. He said, “I love my team and I love my customers – we wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them.”
J. David’s has been the cornerstone of customer service. The love and admiration David shares for his customers, they return ten-fold. These tight-knit relationships were proven when he suffered a burst brain aneurysm in 2008. The morning of February 25th, David remembers the room spinning and being unable to walk, leaving his wife Denise no choice but to call 911. At the hospital, David was given a 2% chance to live, this near-death experience was tough on business but he brought his family closer together. His outcome was better than he could have dreamed: after extensive brain surgery he made a full recovery and a year later was back to business as usual. During that entire year, customers enthusiastically supported the store. David and his family are thankful for all those who rallied around him during this hardship. This unforgettable experience was marked with so many people going out of their way to help – like one client who offered to deliver Los Angeles customer’s clothes on his daily route to work.
David attributes much of his success as a small business owner to his dedicated wardrobe specialists and service providers, who go the extra mile to build relationships. Whether tailoring a suit to find that perfect fit or shining shoes to look like a mirror, J. David’s has taken care of “sharply dressed” as the core of fashionable menswear including special occasion tuxedo rentals to tailoring for both men and women. Its convenient curbside destination at Westfield’s Shops at The Patios was thought-out for men reluctant to delve inside a mall setting and has since evolved into an in-car pickup service. The friendly atmosphere and masculine décor invite customers to shop, accessorize, browse and enjoy this home-styled space David and his team have handcrafted. “Anything we do, we do right,” David said.
The attention to detail is most evident in his custom product line “25 by J. David’s” in honor of one young store-goer, David Stroud, whose infectious spirit will live on through custom-piece labels including his favorite color lime green, his basketball number 25, and a subtle cross. Developing a strong bond through mutual illness, the two sparked the inspiration behind the clothing and accessories line moments after Stroud confessed his wish to David of not being forgotten, as he courageously faced his final days battling against cancer. David’s purposeful efforts to continue this young man’s legacy through “25 by J. Davids” shares meaning behind loving what he does and whom he does it for. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” he said.

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