Sotera Vrentzos, a seamstress tailored for America

Sotera Vrentzos, aka Soula, is a highly skilled seamstress who never shies away from a difficult sewing, tailoring or custom alteration assignment. The owner of Soula’s Alterations in Rehoboth Mall, she greets each person like a long-lost relative, with a smile and a friendly greeting.

Behind her positive attitude, however, lies a history of painful memories, and the iconic journey countless other immigrants have made to America.

In 1974, her village was attacked when Turkey invaded Cyprus, and 200,000 people had to flee their homes, leaving their belongings, in order to survive. Their land and animals had to be abandoned. Soula’s grandfather did not want to leave his home, and did not survive the invasion. He was beaten brutally by the Turks and died soon thereafter. The Turks repatriated the family’s land as well as the house he built for his family.

Vrentzos came to the United States because she was a refugee in her own country, Cyprus; the future there was insecure after the invasion, and 40 percent of the island was destroyed.

Vrentzos’ training as a seamstress had started when she went to a private sewing school in Cyprus in 1964 for two years. Her teachers were renowned in their field. In the heart of the capital, Nicosia, she worked at a top factory where evening gowns and wedding dresses were created.

Vrentzos immigrated to America in 1980, on her birthday, July 7. She met her husband in the United States and started her family; her daughter, Irene, was born in Silver Spring, Md. Before moving to Rehoboth, they lived in Waldorf, Md.

In the tradition of many Americans, Soula always wanted her own business. She had her first shop when she was only 25.

The most rewarding part of her business is to custom-fit people’s clothing to enhance their look. She loves to give people personal attention with her work.

Nothing is outsourced from her shop. Vrentzos does the custom fitting herself and will do the hands-on alteration or sewing of each garment.

The family also owns a restaurant in the heart of Rehoboth, the Corner Grille. This is the family’s fifth summer with the business. The restaurant features Greek specialties, such as homemade baklava and rice pudding, as well as American food like burgers, fries, subs and salads.

George, Soula’s husband, is the owner and chef of the Corner Grille. Irene, their daughter, and her fiancé, also named George, run the restaurant. In season, the restaurant is open seven days a week.

In the winter George helps out in the shop by doing hand-stitching that the machines cannot do.

The most challenging sewing project Vrentzos has ever done was to create the wedding dress for her sister Marina, which was made of many different fabrics, with lacings, pearl buttons and full sleeves.

Some of the unusual tailoring requests received involved creating a bikini for a female body builder; repairing dog sweaters; making custom collars for golf shirts; making specialized fans for a professional dancer on a cruise ship; and altering dresses for a female impersonator.

All her business is word of mouth. She has no need to advertise.

One of the things Vrentzos wants people to know is that custom alterations takes time, skill, and knowledge - and therefore she charges accordingly.

Although she would like to retire, she still enjoys her craft and her customers. Soula says her work ethic and positive attitude were greatly influenced by her parents. They encouraged her to start working early in life, and she hasn’t stopped since.