A former employee of the Spokane-based Mr. Tux formal wear chain, which currently includes 10 stores in three states, says he and his wife have bought the operation, and are considering adding two or three more stores within the next few years.


The former employee, Tim Rabey, and his wife, Laura, bought the assets and trade name of Spokane-based Mosbys Inc., which did business as Mr. Tux.


The chain includes seven stores in Washington, one store in Idaho, and two stores in Montana, Tim Rabey says.


The company has about 40 employees, although that number fluctuates seasonally, he says. Rabey declines to disclose its annual revenues.


John Mosby started Mosbys Inc. in 1974 and says the company operated 23 Mr. Tux outlets in the Northwest and Canada at its peak in 1994.


Mosby says he sold the chain because it was time to explore other avenues. Mosby still owns Spokane Limousine LLC, which he started 16 years ago, and Coeur dAlene Limousine LLC, which he bought two years ago.


Rabey worked at Mr. Tux here between 1989 and 1999. Prior to buying the chain, he worked at a nationwide formal-wear company in Seattle. He says he decided to buy the company because he wanted to move back to Spokane.


Contact Emily Brandler at (509) 344-1265 or via e-mail at emilyb@spokanejournal.com.