Wash-and-wear world leads to demise of dry cleaning industry

    “It’s a wash-and-wear world,” said Holyoke Cleaners owner Dave Johnson when announcing that he and his wife Sheila plan to close their business, Holyoke Cleaners, at the end of the month.
    While the business was very good to them when they first purchased it in 1999, the industry is seeing extreme changes due to the trending nature of clothing materials and a more casual-dress lifestyle.
    The onset of disposable robes, wash-and-wear fabrics and, in general, materials that don’t require the professional hand of dry cleaning has made a huge difference, the Johnsons indicated. It’s a nationwide trend, but it certainly affects them.
    As a result, they plan to close their storefront at 105 S. Baxter Ave. but will continue some of their services from their home, without the overhead of the business operating expenses.
    The Johnsons are calling it retirement but note that Dave, who will be 65 in August, still plans to drive a school bus. They will move the business’s embroidery machine to their home, and Sheila will continue to do custom embroidery jobs, as well as ironing and alterations at their home.
    Their last official day at the store will be Friday, June 29. They will take cleaning up to Monday, June 25, to be finished by the end of that week, and customers are asked to pick up their dry cleaning by the end of the month, as well.
    At that point, equipment will be sold, and the building will be for sale, as well.

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