Business & Tech
Local Dry Cleaners Met in New York City
Frans and Kaisy Chung own Towaco Cleaners together.
- Name: Frans and Kaisy Chung have owned the Towaco Cleaners for 5 years. They have been in the clothing business all their lives.
- Married: Frans, 51, and Kaisy, 50, met 22 years ago. “We dated 8 months,” said Kaisy. “Then we married.” The couple has two boys.
- Part of Town: The road from North Korea to Towaco was circuitous for both Frans and Kaisy Chung. Though the couple did not meet until they moved to New York City, both had parents who moved to São Paulo, Brazil, from North Korea in the hopes that some day they would be able to find an opportunity to move their children to the United States. After working in Manhattan’s garment industry, the two opened a dry cleaning business in Jamaica, Queens. “We know clothing,” said Frans. “We know women’s clothing, men’s clothing, kid's clothing, making clothing. We know all about clothes.” Five years ago they purchased the Towaco Cleaners, and, last year, the Chungs moved from Livingston, NJ to Montville in order to be closer to their Towaco based business. “It’s a nice neighborhood,” said Frans of Montville Township. "A place where we can show our service to the community."
- History: As a result of their families’ many moves in the pursuit of a better life and better wages, both Frans and Kaisy speak English, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. They also share a loss of past. “We cannot communicate with North Korea,” said Frans. “We don’t have a relative, like grandma or grandpa. We cannot communicate with them.”
- Favorite Thing About Montville: “My business location,” said Frans. “To find this location took ten years.” After selling their Manhattan sewing factory in 1996, Frans and Kaisy started a dry cleaning business in Jamaica, Queens, but they wanted to move to a less populated area with professionals who would need dry cleaning. Some place where their knowledge of garments would be appreciated. “This business is about cleaning nicely, pressing nicely, and making alterations nicely, too,” said Frans. The two found what they were looking for in Towaco.
- Education: “All my life I am working with the cloth,” said Kaisy. “I never have a different job. When I was a teenager I liked sewing.” Kaisy began art school in Brazil. When her family had an opportunity to move to the United States, she was accepted at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. “I went to FIT and studied,” she noted. Among other things, she learned pattern making. Shortly after that she met Frans. In 1985, he too had moved to New York from Brazil, where he had studied business for a while at The Catholic University of São Paulo.
- Career: In 1985, Frans started a sewing factory in Manhattan’s Garment District. His parents had run a clothing business in São Paulo. “So I learned from when I was a kid,” he said. In 1989 Frans met Kaisy. With her knowledge of fabrics and fashion, and his knowledge of garment industry, together they manufactured clothes. “He needed me because I knew how to make cloth dresses. So, he thought I would be very useful,” joked Kaisy. “Over 11 years we had a sewing factory on 8th Avenue at 37th Street,” explained Frans. “We sold the business because America lost a lot of jobs from the garment industry to China,” added Kaisy.
- Time: “Oh, it’s long hours,” said Kaisy. “We ‘re open 7 to 7, and we’re open 6 days a week, so it’s almost 70 hours per week.” Frans joked that Kaisy doesn’t actually arrive until 9 a.m., while Kaisy chided that Frans leaves early each day. In any case, the two run the shop together. “With my knowledge of clothing I can handle cleaning all kinds of clothing that a human being can wear,” added Frans, who studied at the Neighborhood Cleaners Association in New York City. “And she is repair, alteration, all this kind of thing. Making new clothes. That’s her job.” Eco-friendly cleaning and alterations are done on the premises at Towaco Cleaners. The business specializes in cleaning both fancy and simple clothing. The only items sent off-site are leather and suede articles, as well as shoes and purses that need repair. “If we had to hire someone else we would have to pay,” said Kaisy. “So we work here together then we save.”
- Today’s Economy: “Business is like stock market,” said Frans. “Up and down.” After 5 years, they have noticed that every year has been a bit different. “I lost customer because they lose job,” said Kaisy. “What you gonna do? People are changing to savings plan. Now they bring dry cleaning only. They press their own garments.” Frans believes the economy will come back up, and when it does he thinks he might sell, in order to pursue some other business ventures that he has always wanted to try. Kaisy just shakes her head at him. “It’s still a good job,” he said.
- Hobbies: Kaisy enjoys oil painting and pastel. “I draw,” she said. “It is my favorite. When I travel I take my canvas and paints.” Frans counts golf, soccer, and bowling among his favorite pastimes. “Golf is a routine. I play every week,” he said.
- Philosophy: “Live with God forever,” said Kaisy, pointing toward the heavens. “After I die I want to live in paradise. That’s it. That’s my philosophy.” Frans agreed. “I’m Catholic,” he said. “I like what we see on the money: ‘In God we trust.’ Nobody else, right?”
- Advice: “Towaco Cleaners. I think they got to try it once. If they do not like, complain. If they like, continue. That’s all,” said Frans.
