Exhibit 10.18A


                    FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

          THIS FIRST AMENDMENT (this "Amendment") is made as of this 16th day of
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March, 2001 to that certain EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 21, 1999
(the "Employment Agreement"), by and between R. NEAL BLACK ("Employee") and JOS.
A. BANK CLOTHIERS, INC. ("Employer").

               FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, the receipt and adequacy of
which are hereby acknowledged, Employer and Employee, being the sole parties to
the Employment Agreement, hereby amend the Employment Agreement as follows:

          1. Subject to earlier termination otherwise set forth in the
Employment Agreement, the last day of the Employment Period shall be February 1,
2003.

          2. Effective July 1, 2000 and unless otherwise increased in the
discretion of the Company, Base Salary shall be $252,475.

          Except as specifically amended hereby, the Employment Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect according to its terms. To the extent of any
conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the terms of the remainder of
the Employment Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall control and prevail.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have those respective
meanings attributed to them in the Employment Agreement. This Amendment shall
hereafter be deemed a part of the Employment Agreement for all purposes.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as
of the date first above written.

JOS. A. BANK CLOTHIERS, INC.

By::   /s/: Robert N. Wildrick                          /s/: R. Neal Black
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   Robert N. Wildrick,                                  R. NEAL BLACK
   Chief Executive Officer