Zoots Dry Cleaners Shutters After Company Declares Bankruptcy

BEVERLY, MA — Zoots, the area dry cleaners, just went bankrupt. If you have clothing waiting there for cleaning or pick up, it may be a while before you get it back — but you will get it back, representatives said in a Jan. 19 announcement to customers.

After nearly two decades in business in the state, the dry cleaning company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and closed up shop at its 18 area locations across Eastern Massachusetts and announced the move in an email and posted to Facebook Friday evening. But by Monday there was a sign at the Elliot Street location, which opened in 2016, and no one answered the phone.

As of Jan. 20, the "ATM" clothing retrieval at several locations — including Danvers — was working, according to several posts on Facebook.

"Zoots has closed it's doors and is no longer open for business," the company said in the email to customers.

"Please be patient as plans are being made to get your garments back to you. You will get further information via email and notices on posted at our stores."

The Better Business Bureau gave the company an A+ rating before it filed for bankruptcy.

Employees at the Beverly Zoots said they got no warning about the closure and are now out of jobs. One told Patch she came into the shop Friday morning as usual. During a conference call at 1 p.m., she said, the store managers were all told to close and leave immediately. The drivers on duty that day were asked to stop their routes, go back to stores and then leave. "Shocked everyone!" she wrote to Patch.

On social media, some people reported that Zoots drivers were unaware of the closure the day after the announcement. They drove their regular routes and picked up clothing to take to the store, where they encountered locked doors.

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch