Fast Needle Makes Short Work of Alterations

Although Tanya Grinberg was a sewing teacher in her native Russia, she was eager to allow her entrepreneurial spirit to emerge. “There was no way to have a business there,” she said. “Everything was government regulated.”

She got her chance after she emigrated here with her husband, his father and their two sons in June 1992, joining the rest of her family who’d emigrated earlier. She began sewing for other alterations shops, but after two years, she opened Fast Needle, a small alterations shop inside a Michelle’s Cleaners in Lyndhurst.

“The first week I had one customer. I was terrified,” she said. “It took two years to build up my clientele.” Then she was able to expand to a larger storefront at 5858 Mayfield Road, formerly occupied by Milton’s alteration shop. She merged the shops’ names, hoping to attract Milton’s former customers, too.

Fast Needle-Milton’s offers dry cleaning, alterations and custom monogramming and designs embroidered on clothing and gift items such as towel sets and blankets.

Her newest service is in-home fashion counseling. “You open the closet and say, ‘I’ve got nothing to wear,’” she said. “I’ll make suggestions for mixing your wardrobe pieces and take pictures of outfits for you to keep as your guide.”

She’ll also re-cut and renovate items to fit modern lines.

“I’m here 15 years and counting,” she said, proudly pointing out her “Angie’s List Super Service Award” hanging on the wall.  

Customers can track orders on her website, www.fastneedle.com.  “That’s very popular with young professionals. They don’t have to make calls to find out if something is ready.”