Adele Helleksen has a triple challenge. First, she’s a wife and mother. Second, she’s the owner of Albert Lea Tailors, one of the very few firms of its kind in the region. Third is the challenge of running the business and taking care of her children during working hours.

And this last factor helps to explain the presence of several play items in the tailor shop.

Helleksen is a 1991 graduate of Albert Lea High School. During her high school years and after graduation she worked part-time at the Albert Lea Public Library for about 10 years. This was followed by a year at Hudson Foods, then auto body school and seven and a half years at the Dave Syverson automobile dealership.

“I was laid off from the body shop. I like to learn and every new project is something I want to try.” she said. Thus, she became an employee at Albert Lea Tailors and purchased the business from Anna Oberg on Jan. 1, 2004.

“Every day is a different project and a new challenge,” Helleksen commented.

“This is one of the very few tailor businesses left in the region,” she declares. As a result, her shop also gets some business from people who live in other localities.

Albert Lea Tailors, located in the lower level of Celebrations on Broadway Avenue, does custom work for Reinertson’s Embroidery, Tiger City Sports and Leuthold’s Clothiers.

She emphasizes that nothing is custom made to fit the customer from cloth at her shop.

Helleksen and Albert Lea Tailors does alterations, tailoring and repairs. They work on prom dresses, wedding dresses, suits, almost everything leather, other clothing items and uniform items for the Army National Guard.

One of the distinctive features of this shop is the small slip of paper given to the customer when he or she brings in an item or items to be tailored. On this slip is the future pickup date.

“If it (the pickup date) doesn’t work out, I’ll call. Customer service is my No. 1 priority,” Helleksen emphasizes.

Adele married Stephen Helleksen in 2001 on what she describes as “a cold October day at the gazebo” in Fountain Lake Park. They have two children: son, Alden Curtis (A.C.), 5, and daughter Adele who will be one on Dec. 15.

There are five part time employees at Albert Lea Tailors; Anna Oberg (the former owner), Bev Oakland, Sharon Herfindahl, Analynn Peterson (Adele’s sister) and Elmire Rosnow (Adele’s mother).

“My mother helps out with baby sitting and cleaning,” she explains.

Hours at Albert Lea Tailors are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.