LAKEPORT >> Sarah Dutra knew she had to do something about her husband driving 1.5 hours out of the county for a light bulb. So she opened a store so that he and others wouldn’t have to drive so far — but it’s not just any kind of convenient-items shop.
“My husband works for the Sheriff’s Department. So, it kind of all started when he needed to buy a light bulb for his law-enforcement flashlight,” Dutra said. “He had to drive to Santa Rosa because there was no local source.”
That’s three hours away from the family for a single item, she thought. That only lit up the thought that several others in Lake travel hours for work-related gear.
“All of our local departments — Sheriff’s Department, Lakeport and Clearlake Police, and others — drive to Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Vacaville, or Chico to get their uniforms ordered,” she said. One trip for uniforms is usually not enough, however. Some find themselves making a second trip to have a seamstress alter the workwear.
In the end, “it ends up costing a lot more when you add up gas and time invested.”
With Dutra’s dream of opening up a business and seeing a community in dire need of a workwear shop, she decided to launch her business: Dusty D Work Wear — named after her grandfather Dusty, who always wore auto mechanic coveralls.
On the corner of Main Street and Armstrong Street, the store sits in what Dutra recognizes Lakeport as the “hub” of the county.
“It’s the county’s hub because you have the sheriff’s and police departments, the courthouse, doctors’ offices, fire department and the county jail,” she said.
And the store has wear and gear for each of those departments mentioned — and then some. Dusty D carries Nomex apparel for local firefighters; scrubs and lab coats for those in the medical field; law enforcement and emergency medical services uniforms; reflective and heavy-duty wear; and even culinary attire. Not to mention they now offer tuxedo rentals.
Inside you’ll also find racks with duty belts, patches and pouches, blood pressure kits, coffee holders, and clogs and boots.
Shopping for these items is not all locals are limited to doing. Located behind the register is a large room where all the alterations and embroideries are made.
“Uniforms have specific requirements and alterations play a huge role in those ordering,” Dutra said while pointing to a stack of white binders, one titled “CHP Uniform Policies.”
She added, “Having an in-house seamstress is a huge asset that saves buyers so much time because they can get anything that they need right here. It’s fantastic to have Alterations by Merri here and help.” Merri Fauchald, a subcontractor, said she takes walk-ins.
Together, the duo had had much success since their opening just two weeks ago. Their early success doesn’t just show online where Dusty D has already gained five-star reviews. Inside the store is a floor-to-ceiling blackboard covered in compliments from visitors. One, from Dutra’s daughter Ana, read, “So proud of you mom! Follow your dreams! I love you!”
Also around the walls of the shop is reclaimed barn wood from Cobb and corrugated metal from her neighbor’s backyard to create an industrial, rustic look. Old newspapers and photographs of when the building was first built in 1959 are framed, adorning the vintage theme. Dutra tells of the last uniform store, which occupied the same building and closed down about eight years ago.
With a brand-new workwear shop in town again, Dusty D has already served locals from across Clear Lake, from placing orders to embroidering Clearlake PD patches on uniforms. They aren’t just serving Lake folks, however.
“I had this kid from the Willits Fire Department come in and say, ‘Can you steam my shirt? I have to go to work, ‘ and we made it look new and away he went,” said Dutra.
Customers have come from Ukiah and Davis, too.
Dutra said it’s nice to see first responders park their ambulances and fire trucks right outside and stop by for a quick purchase or adjustment.
“I love our community, and I feel these guys and gals shouldn’t have to drive two hours to wear what they need to wear to work. They work all sorts of crazy shifts. This business is a huge need in the community,” she added.
In the future, Dutra would like to have an online inventory and even sell dancing shoes — something she noticed the county also needs.
Dusty D will hold a ribbon-cutting in mid-December, Dutra estimates. No official date has been released, but she recommends the public to visit the Dusty D Work Wear Facebook page for updates.
