Founded in 2014 by the owners of J. Michaels Clothiers, Haymakers & Co. draws inspiration from the term “Haymaker”—a person who seizes opportunities and makes things happen, as in the old agrarian adage “make hay while the sun shines.” An alternative definition is “a knockout punch.” Our clientele are Haymakers, and we hope that your experience with us is a “knockout.”
When you entrust Haymakers & Co. with your wardrobe needs, you’re putting your faith in expertise honed over the last four decades.
As the progeny of J. Michaels, Nashville’s Bespoke Specialists, our team can guide you through a curated selection of upscale men’s clothing. We take the time to understand your personal style preferences and wardrobe needs of your business, social and civic life, maintaining detailed profiles to refine every subsequent experience with us.
We pride ourselves on not only partnering with brands that tell captivating stories but also ensuring these tales are woven with threads of authenticity, integrity, and unparalleled workmanship. Our eyes are always on the horizon, scouting the next innovative brand that meets the Haymakers standard. Therefore, alongside our time-tested iconic standards, you’ll often see brands in our store before seeing them elsewhere. Whether you drop in or make an appointment with our Nashville men’s style experts, you'll discover the difference our expertise brings to your wardrobe.
We believe in more than just selling apparel. Our purpose extends to helping men build a stellar visual reputation, emphasizing the profound impact that how a man dresses has on the way others perceive them and employing his clothing as an effective tool in non-verbal communication. We’re in the business of ensuring that each man who walks through our doors feels confident and authentic in their selections, whatever the occasion and whatever the “field” of their endeavors.
Located at West End Avenue & Acklen Park in a 1930s renovated bungalow, every visit to Haymakers & Co. is a unique blend of business and pleasure. Bring along your well-behaved, leashed dog if you like—we’re a dog-friendly establishment—and while just browsing or efficiently accomplishing your set-out objectives, enjoy a soda or coffee, or a libation or beer from our bar (it’s always open). Whether you’re a local or one of our many out-of-town visitors searching for men’s clothing stores in Nashville, TN, Haymakers & Co. stands out as one of the city’s premier menswear destinations. We think you’ll find your experience to be a true knockout punch!
At the very heart of our business, will always be the desire to forge lasting relationships with you. That’s why we stand behind everything we sell, with an unconditional 100% satisfaction guarantee. On top of all that, we LOVE what we do and are grateful for the opportunity to help each of our clientele build a stellar visual reputation.. We look forward to welcoming you as our guest!
Jim Brandon was born in Murray, Kentucky and graduated from Murray State University [home of the Racers] in 1974 with a degree in Marketing & Health Education. While at Murray, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. In August of 1970, Jim found his calling when he went to work for The College Shop directly across from the main campus. While working at the store between classes, he realized his love for the business and, upon graduation, moved to Nashville to go to work for Levy’s. Jim spent the next fifteen years gaining experience in management, buying, and the fitting of tailored clothing.
Looking to expand his footprint in the realm of made-to-measure, Jim teamed up with Mike Mahaffey in 1992, bringing with him over twenty years of retail experience and has been integral in molding J. Michaels into the hybrid menswear specialty store & made-to-measure clothier it is now known to be. Often referred to as ‘the best-dressed man in Nashville, Jim’s exacting attention to detail, signature sartorial style, and guarded parameters in traditional menswear have given his clients a leg up in their business and casual wardrobes.
His love for the Nashville menswear business is finding new product for the store and making that personal connection with his clients to make sure he equips them for all of their work or social clothing needs. Jim and his wife, Debbie, live in Nashville and have three children – Nathan, Eric, and Jamie. His interests outside the work center around his growing family, including five grandchildren.
Mike Mahaffey was born in Dallas, Texas and graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in Journalism in 1978. He founded J. Michaels Clothiers in 1989 after moving to Nashville in 1986 from Dallas, where he had worked with custom clothier R.W. Furr since 1981. In 2014, Mike opened Haymakers & Co. as an expansion of J. Michaels Clothiers.
He has served on the Board of Directors of The Custom Tailors and Designers Association of America and on the Board of the Exchange Club Family Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, was the co-founder of the American West clothing brand, Cacties, and frequently conducts seminars on How to Build a Great Visual Reputation. His passions in the clothing business center around the personal relationships established and built with customers and co-workers, packaging clients in the most effective manner for their business and personal interactions, the architectural, engineering, and technical aspects of measuring and fitting, and teaching others the science of professional selling.
Mike and his wife, Mary Bit, live in Nashville, and together they have three children: Brad, Mary Kate, and Wes Taylor (deceased), and two grandchildren. His interests outside of work include spending time with friends, writing and making music, riding horses, all things concerning the West, golf, great literature, philosophy, behavioral psychology, and the pursuit of the revelations concerning God’s relationship with mankind.
Sheldon Helm was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in the small village of Grand Chain, Illinois. He graduated in 2005 from Southern Illinois University with a BA degree in History. Following graduation he began working in the casino marketing industry, originally in Biloxi, Mississippi and then in St. Louis, MO.
In 2014 Sheldon and his wife, Jamie, moved to Nashville hoping to be part of a rapidly growing community. After one year working in sales in another industry, Sheldon joined the team at Haymakers & Company in the summer of 2015. A few years later he was given the opportunity to learn and participate in the managerial and purchasing side of the retail industry, a role he loves and occupies to this day.
In his free time, Sheldon enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs, Boyd and Nella (and cat Layla). They specifically enjoy traveling, whether its road trips with the dogs or hopping on a flight for a long weekend in one of their favorite cities. They can also be found on weekends enjoying dinners out with family and friends.
Michael Barrett was born in Nashville, TN, and has lived in the Nashville area his entire life. He graduated from David Lipscomb University with a BA degree in Bible and Business Communications in 1976. He began in the men’s clothing business in 1972 when he worked with Cain-Sloan in Green Hills, and after a year and a half, he began a lengthy career with Levy’s in 1974. Michael came on board with J. Michaels Clothiers in 2002, where he has developed many business and personal relationships along the way.
Michael has been an active member of the Brentwood Rotary Club since 1992, being on the Board of Directors six years and serving as President in 2007-2008. He completed the Rotary Leadership Institute and served the Rotary District 6760 as Assistant Governor from 2011-2015. In 2016, he graduated from the City of Brentwood Police Citizens Academy to broaden his interest in local law enforcement and his support and understanding for what they do.
Michael has resided in Brentwood, TN, for fifty years and has been active in the church his entire adult life. He is the father of two adult sons, Patrick and Brent, and three lovely grandchildren. He is an avid fan of collegiate sports, especially the University of Tennessee, as well as his local pro teams, the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators. He prides himself in his ability to provide a personal one-on-one service that caters to local dignitaries, members in the entertainment business, as well as the general public, and is dedicated to making the process of purchasing clothing as stress free as possible for his valued clientele.
Trained in the old-world tradition of master tailoring, Dennis Moore has over thirty years experience in garment construction, flat pattern drafting, and master alterations. A native Nashvillian, Dennis apprenticed at Solomon’s School of Tailoring after graduating from Hillwood High School in 1985 and has been an integral part of our in-house alterations for the past 15 years. His expertise and knowledge allow us to offer a full range of options to our customers, including hand-sewn working buttonholes and bespoke alterations to the finest-made garments in the world.
Dennis and his wife, Leonora, enjoy travel and are very involved in their church, New Faith Baptist, where Dennis heads up their Youth Group program. He enjoys spending time with his two grown children & granddaughter in addition to flying RC Helicopters and joyriding in his Jeep every chance he gets.
As a cornerstone of the Nashville menswear scene, Haymakers & Co. proudly offers apparel that embodies the spirit of Nashville: timelessly innovative and unapologetically authentic. Our store, deeply rooted in our city’s rich history, is a go-to destination for those searching for the best men’s clothing Nashville has to offer.
