Financial problems shutter 100-year-old Bay Area formal wear company

CAMPBELL, Calif. (KGO) -- After 100 years in business, a Bay Area formal wear company is closing up shop.

Selix Formalwear told its stores and employees Thursday that it would shutter its doors. People were scrambling Friday to find tuxedos in time for upcoming weddings.

Jennifer MacDonell's brother is getting married next Saturday. When she took her sons to Selix Thursday to be fitted for their tuxedos, she got the bad news.

"They wouldn't be able to do my brother's wedding," MacDonell said.

A Selix district manager said all six Bay Area stores are closing. The company had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but the owner did not follow through on his plan and so the next step is liquidation.

"I am surprised and I'm sorry for them because they have really excellent dedicated employees," MacDonell added.

Bart Willner started his career with Selix and now manages Tuxedo Fashions in San Jose.

"The brides are in total panic," he said.

He's had at least a dozen phone calls and has scheduled multiple emergency appointments for the weekend.

"We're going to work with the wedding parties, if they put any money down at Selix, we're going to try to work with them and make sure the price they pay is comfortable," Willner said.

MacDonnell has been able to secure all eight tuxes for the wedding party with Tuxedo Fashions.

"I told my brother, 'I hope this is the biggest thing that goes wrong with your wedding because it's easily solvable and we're going to be fine,'" she said.

Selix will be out of business as of Monday.