Dowagiac’s newest custom apparel store is now open and accepting orders.

The owners of Casual Tees have officially begun operating out of the company’s new location in Dowagiac, just outside downtown at 100 LaGrange St. The showroom is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Originally located in two locations — a printing facility in Eau Claire and a storefront in Coloma — owner David Johnson decided earlier this year to consolidate his operations in Dowagiac, purchasing the former Dowagiac Commercial Press building.

After several months of work getting the shop ready and moving the various embroidering, screen printing and other machinery from both stores to Dowagiac, the employees opened the doors to the public earlier this month.

“We have not even done much advertising but people are already coming to visit us at the new store,” said Justin Johnson, the main graphic designer with the company.

Just last week, the staff was hard at work embroidering more than 500 shorts for the Pokagon Band Running Team, Johnson said.

The company works with a variety of different customers, from schools, large and small businesses to brides and grooms, producing custom-made logos and designs for placement on T-shirts, sweatshirts and other types of clothing. Casual Tees also produces trophies and other types of promotional items.

Typically, the staff takes around two weeks to complete an order, beginning with initial design work with the client, Johnson said.

Located inside a facility once operated by the famed Round Oak Stove Company, the employees feel like they are adding to the city’s rich legacy of manufacturing.

“I feel like we working inside a piece of Dowagiac history,” said Geoff Brumley, another employee with the company. “In fact, there are still some pieces of equipment around here from when the place first opened.”

People wishing to make an order or wanting to find out more about the company can visit the storefront, call (269) 462-9088 or visit Casual Tee’s website at http://www.casualteesinc.com.