Mission Mall's newest store Office Hours sells men's clothes with an origin story 

James Fucillo has been in the sales business since he graduated from Cal Poly in 1999. His work environment called for a suit and tie, which got him to thinking about the quality of the fabric and how well the suit flattered his silhouette.

When his work environment changed and he was able to dress a little more casually, he continue to have a strong focus on the quality and story behind his clothing.

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• Photo By Karen Garcia
• TALE OF TWO THREADS James Fucillo opened his first storefront with the intention of helping his customers learn more about the clothes on their backs.

"If you stick with the classic silhouette you can get away with focusing more on quality of clothing, clothing that is meant to last a long time. For me, I've obviously been passionate about that for quite a while," Fucillo said.

That's the core of his first men's retail store, Office Hours, in the Mission Mall. It's not a retail storefront in the traditional sense of stocking the latest trends. The items carried range from boots to jeans but everything is spread out. Clothes aren't stuffed together on racks but rather given space for customers to really see what the store has to offer. And Fucillo is manning the counter most days to offer answers to questions—but also to learn from his customers.

It's the premise of the name Office Hours.

"It's a harken back to a deeper understanding of what it is that we put on ourselves. It references the time that professors have after normal classroom hours to get a deeper dive on what it is you're learning," he said.

Fucillo said he wants people to start thinking more about the clothes they purchase. He said that the latest concept when dining is farm-to-table—knowing where your food comes from—so why not think of clothing in that way, "farm-to-closet."

"If you're concerned about what you put in your body, I think the next logical step is to be concerned about what you're putting on your body, or at least have some intention of where it comes from," he said.

Fucillo knows exactly how some of the items he stocks are made and where the materials come from.

"Like the jeans we sell here, I know where the cotton was grown. It was grown in Texas, and the indigo that dyed the thread blue was from an old tobacco farm in Tennessee where they tore the tobacco out and planted indigo plants for the dye. It was woven in North Carolina, cut and sewn in Los Angeles, and brought to us here in San Luis Obispo," he said.

Fucillo said San Luis Obispo has a long history of local shops that are built around the long haul. It's not about making money but rather servicing clients. That's exactly what he wants to bring to his store, a place where long-term relationships are built and value is provided every step along the way.

"Everything we do is filtered through the lens of does it add value to our clients. Because if it doesn't, there's no purpose in doing it," he said.

Office Hours isn't aiming for customers to throw out their whole closets to spend money in the store. It stocks staple items that Fucillo guarantees will last a long time.

"You can buy a pair of jeans your freshman year and as long as they fit, they will literally last you an entire year here," he said.

To learn more about the store and what it has to offer, visit Fucillo at Office Hours, located in the Mission Mall.

Fast fact

Boy Scout Troop 60, the largest scout troop in the Los Padres Council, which encompasses all of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, invites the community to honor Troop 60 Scoutmaster Steve von Dohlen for his 11 years of service. The event takes place on Sept. 29 at the Scout Hut at 2247 Oak St., Paso Robles. The afternoon consists of light refreshments, shared memories honoring von Dohlen, an awards presentation, and the introduction of Troop 60's new scoutmaster. Δ

Staff Writer Karen Garcia wrote this week's Strokes and Plugs. Send tidbits to [email protected].