Choice Cleaners Wraps Up First Year Without Storefront

When it comes to choosing a dry cleaner conveniently located near you, owner of Choice Cleaners Ayman Awad believes you shouldn’t have to look any further than your own home or office.

Originally located in a storefront, Awad is wrapping up his fiorst year of taking his dry cleaning business and making it mobile one.

“I want to be able to stand out,” said Awad. “That’s my whole theory to stand out and say what makes my business different than others.”

Choice Cleaners uses hydrocarbon cleaning, which is all-natural and environmentally friendly, on things such as regular laundry items, leather, shoes, wedding gowns and bedding.

Though he has given up his storefront for a business on wheels, Awad has not encountered any challenges thus far. He feels that the mobility has allowed for better scheduling and has made his business more efficient.

“So far it has been successful,” said Awad, “Something I should have done years ago.”

When it comes to dry cleaning, St. James Dry Cleaners’ owner Pete Marinelli, who has been in the business for 42 years, prefers to do his work behind a store window on Lake Avenue.

"I know some people who are successful with mobile dry cleaning," Marinelli said, "but it’s not as cost or quality effective."

By not having to worry about storefront maintenance, Awad said that while he is keeping his prices the same, the expenses that a store would cause are cut along with overhead costs, boosting his profit margin.

Awad, who is also member of the Hauppauge Rotary Club, said since closing his store last July, his business has increased about 22 to 25 percent.

“By changing it up and accommodating people,” said Awad, “I am serving more people.”