News : End of an era: 4th Street Cleaners closes

End of an Era: George and Marta Bauer are closing 4th Street Cleaners.

Business has been good at 4th Street Cleaners, said George Bauer.

But times, across the nation, have been tough for the industry, especially in small towns.

George and Marta have now joined the thousands of other American small-town dry cleaner owners who have decided to close the cleaning business. The Bauers have turned off their machines and sold the building to Rich Hainstock.

"Four thousand dry cleaners have closed across the country in recent years," said Hainstock. "And here in eastern Iowa, four have closed in the past few months."

A few years ago, said Hainstock, he could have sold the dry cleaning machine for $8,000; now, he says, he would be fortunate to get $1,200 for it.

Across the nation, the dry cleaning industry has been dealing with a 2012 trade dispute that caused a significant increase in the cost of hangers in 2012. New, more stringent EPA regulations governing the use of the perchloroethylene chemical used by dry cleaners has also made operating such businesses more expensive and complicated.

In Vinton, Bauer said that the aging building which needed much maintenance, as well as aging equipment were the main factors in his decision to close.

With most people who live in Vinton working in other towns, said Bauer, there is less demand for work-related cleaning jobs for uniforms and related items, said Bauer.

Now that there are no local cleaners now serving customers, area residents with dry cleaning needs can drop off their items at Cameron's Clothing, where Varsity Cleaners has a drop-off site. City Cleaners still has vehicles that offer service to Vinton, as well.

Hainstock said that the La Reyna Mexican Restaurant next door to 4th Street Cleaners will use the back half of the building for kitchen and food preparation space. Hainstock has not yet found an occupant for the front part of the building.

The Bauers do have several dozen clothes hangers available for free. A handful of cleaned clothing items also remained to be picked up. Those not claimed will be held for a while before being donated to charity, said Bauer. Stop by next week for either the hangers or your unclaimed clothing.

The Bauers bought the business, formerly the Harrison 4th Street Cleaners, in 2009.