There’s a certain symmetry to the fact that a business that can sell you larger trousers is locating in a spot that used to house an all-you-can eat Chinese buffet. That’s the latest scenario on south Iowa Street, as Men’s Wearhouse has signed a deal to locate in the Pine Ridge Plaza shopping center near 33rd and Iowa streets.

I reported several months ago about speculation that Men’s Wearhouse was going to locate in the Pine Ridge Plaza center, but I struggled to get it confirmed. Now, I have that confirmation. A building permit and a sign permit that list Men’s Wearhouse have been filed at Lawrence City Hall.

The business will locate in the vacant spot just east of the Sport Clips barber shop and a couple of doors down from Jason’s Deli. The location for a short time housed an all-you-can eat Chinese and Asian food buffet.

Remodeling work has started on the building, so I would think a spring opening is a real possibility.

As for Men’s Wearhouse, surely you are familiar with it. The company is one of the largest retailers of men’s suits in the country. The chain became famous in the 1980s when its founder and pitchman, George Zimmer, would utter the catch phrase “You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it.” (To be fair, I think Doritos crumbs add a pop of color to an outfit, so I’m not sure how big of a risk George was taking with his guarantee.)

The entry of Men’s Wearhouse in the Lawrence market is likely to shake up the men’s clothing business. The store has expanded its offerings over the years. Of course, it still focuses on suits, sports coats, ties, dress pants and dress shirts, but it now also sells sweaters, Levi’s, shoes and many other accessories. The chain also is big into the tuxedo rental business. Tailoring services also are in the mix. According to the chain’s website, each store has its own tailors.

It also will be interesting to watch whether the entry of Men’s Wearhouse causes changes at another men’s clothing retailer in town: Jos. A. Bank, which has a store at Seventh and Vermont streets in downtown. Jos. A. Bank and Men’s Wearhouse are owned by the same parent company. I know the two companies do compete against each other in some larger markets, but is Lawrence of that size? Maybe there is a larger market for men’s dress wear than I’m thinking. All I know is I wear a tie five days a week, and Lawrence residents routinely ask me where my hearse is. In other words, Lawrence doesn’t have the reputation as a big suit and tie town.

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In other news and notes from around town:

• Hold off on buying the extra large trousers for just a moment. I want to make sure you are not confused about a sign you may be seeing in downtown Lawrence. There is a sign along Massachusetts Street advertising Brinkman Bakery. But don’t get excited, unless you have a time machine.

The sign is at 816 Massachusetts, and it was uncovered as part of some renovation work on the vacant building. Lawrence resident Alan Terry, who recently bought the building, told me he decided to make some improvements to the front of the building by removing the old 1950s style awning. To his surprise, he found that some chip board had been covering up a leaded glass transom and the old bakery sign.

Terry said he’s getting quotes now to restore the old glass transom, and hopes it will be financially feasible to do so. As for the sign, he’s not sure what he will do with that. He is learning a bit about Brinkman Bakery.

I chatted briefly with the folks at the Watkins Museum of History, and a staff member here looked through some of our archives. The files indicate Brinkman Bakery dates back to 1915 when it moved from Tonganoxie to Lawrence. It opened shop at 933 Mass. but moved to 816 Mass. in 1917. It looks like the Brinkmans sold it in 1944 but it operated with Brinkman name until 1947. It eventually became Ford Bakery. Brinkman’s specialty product seemed to be something called Jayhawk bread. No word on what made the bread Jayhawk bread, but based on what I know about Jayhawk merchandise today, it cost 20 percent more than regular bread.

Terry said he has found some old photos of the interior of the store through a collection at the Kansas Historical society. He plans to forward them to me, and I’ll share them when I get them.

As for the building, it used to house Fun & Games toy store several years ago. More recently it housed DoodleBugs, a secondhand store focusing on children’s items. Terry said he is close to signing a deal for a tenant — a nonrestaurant, specialty type of store. When that deal becomes final, I will get your more details.