After almost 40 years of serving the local community, Sean and Choon Lee will close Saratoga Dry Cleaners on April 30.
The dry cleaners at 14495 Big Basin Way actually opened in the 1950s. Sean Lee said his parents bought the business from the original owners in 1985 and have kept the business in the family since then.
Now, due to the lingering financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lees have made the difficult decision to shutter the business.
“Whether you entrusted us with your most cherished garments or simply stopped by to say hello, we have cherished every interaction and memory,” the owners said in a letter posted outside the shop.
Located in downtown Saratoga, the dry cleaners has become a staple in the community, and generations of residents have brought their business to the Lees. Residents come in to drop off and pick up their dry cleaning, but also to chat and catch up with the couple.
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“Generations within the same family have been coming to our store to get their clothes dry cleaned and now feel like they’re a part of our family,” Sean Lee wrote in an email. “We’ve witnessed children growing up and eventually bringing in their own garments for cleaning and have enjoyed sharing their joy through their milestones such as weddings and graduations.”
Lee said he’s witnessed the character of the city evolve over the years, adding that Saratoga was a “good American town” back when his family first purchased the business 40 years ago.
“There was a privately owned pharmacy, an Ace Hardware store, a local grocery store, barber shop, bakery and many other thriving businesses,” he said. “Now, all the stores that drove foot traffic have closed, and the town has felt empty for many years.”
Lee said retirement is not an option for his family at this time, so the couple will be pursuing part-time work after closing up shop.
“While it’s a bittersweet ending to this chapter of our lives, we are immensely grateful for the love and support we’ve received from the community throughout our journey,” he said. “We will never forget the kindness and generosity of all the relationships we’ve made over the last 40-plus years.”