It's simple. I work hard. I'm disciplined. I respect everybody I meet. I was trained
to respect older people and I respect every person whether it is a Jew or not, to treat
them the same the way my grandfather taught me. Hi again everybody this is Hank Zona of The
Grape Sunwrapped. When we started this video series I promised you interesting stories about
interesting people, places and things. Almost always they're wine related but when my producer
Mike came through with this idea I said let's let's do it because it's about artisanship,
it's about tradition, it's a it's really a classic story about an incredibly interesting man
Martin Greenfield and here we are at Martin Greenfield Clothiers in East Williamsburg Brooklyn.
Martin Greenfield is an incredible story in that he is a Holocaust survivor from childhood
and now is America's greatest living tailor. He has made suits for countless numbers of dignitaries
including a number of presidents. We're going to meet with Martin in a few minutes and we're going
to talk about his life, we're going to talk about his business and I'm going to talk to you about
where I see the parallels with the wine business too as well. Be back in a moment. I honored today
to be here with Mr. Martin Greenfield. Mr. Greenfield thank you for having us in here. I'm happy
that you came because I want to share my story with the whole world. The way I came to America
in 1947 as a survivor the Nazis came and every Jew was in the street and gave us one hour to pack
whatever he came and then they took us to the munkat to a labor camp and then four weeks later
we were in Auschwitz and that was the last time I saw my family. Never never saw anybody again
until I was liberated. I knew my father said he'd survive. He was a healthy, was an engineer
so then I found somebody a year later I looked for my father and he said don't look. I was there
and my your father was an engineer he was healthy and he was strong and we didn't finish the bridge
it was our fault not his and that was a week before the liberation and then everybody was let
go and your father I guess stopped turning around and he shot him in front of me and left him there
so don't look anymore. That was my saddest day I found out. My father prepared me that if you
survive and I don't survive honor us by living not by crying and you must continue with life
and there and the other thing he taught me I was a happy kid he says you're a happy kid
so you have to smile that you're happy. Well I still smile now and I came to America
and I started to work here. There's the biggest company 3G's
and I started as a floor boy for $35 and 70 years later I bought the company
and I own it today just to save the jobs in America. I love what I do that's why I'm still working
here. You wouldn't find many people that work 70 years no job or on a place or like this because
we made the best suits in the world and we still do but now we shifted we don't sell any stores
only direct to the public. It broke my heart because I used to go to measure these people
I worked with Sacks with Demi I worked with Neema Marcus for 60 years I worked with the
Customs shop I worked with Brooks Brothers Quality with intrinsic value
What does intrinsic value mean Mr. Goldman? He explained me what value to the customer.
If I saw a president elected that he didn't have a nice suit I write him a letter
that I sent somebody to measure you should look like a president
and they all answer they want to look like president and we do make them look.
You were telling me that a lot of the suits you're doing aren't for
individual customers now but they're for TV and movies for example you did all these suits for
the HBO show Boardwalk Empire correct? Boardwalk Empire we made maybe about 160 tailors I mean actors
that guess what my son Jay measured first I started and but he measured all of them
because he has to so he so but they all met me took pictures with me we went to all the parties
to all the shows it was very exciting so the name of your book the measure of a man
a measure of a man from Auschwitz to the White House Taylor from where I'm learning from you
the measure of a man yes somebody who takes pride in his work yes takes great pleasure in his family
yes takes great pleasure in living his life fully and happily every day correct so that's my life
I do a lot of wine related stories and it's great to know that you actually enjoy wine
I enjoy wine very much you know and to me wine is about life wine is about family it's about
sharing with friends and well it's it's it's like everything else it's like my clothing has to be
done the best wine has to be the best yes it does otherwise you can't sell it the best ingredients
and the best skills combined correct it has to do the combination works all the time if you make
quality and also intrinsic value that they could buy it and so I'll wait I'll wish you and Hebrew
the lachayim lachayim and and then Italian salute salute the chintan it's good someone was nice
enough to give me this bottle it's a it's a bo castel chetan of the pop in 2001 it's it's one
of my favorite wines and I thought it would be a special wine to share with a special me well
I'll give you a bottle you're giving me one of these suits it is delicious and it's just nice
to share it this has been a fascinating day with a fascinating man and I really appreciate the
opportunity to be in here this is Hank's owner the grapes unwrapped join me next time when we
talk about wine and life and all other kinds of interesting things mr greenfield one more time
I enjoyed meeting both of great behind again thank you thank you see behind see you again soon
so I'm pretty honored that you're measuring me and you've measured presidents and religious leaders
and I measure you just like we measure everybody right with numbers no difference what you are and who
you are
