Happy Birthday, Roswell Cleaners! 60 years old and you’re still going strong, with all the vitality and dedication as when you first opened.

The Roswell Cleaners first opened its doors in 1948 in Historic Roswell. It was not until a full three decades later – 1978 – that it moved to its current location on Highway 9 in the same shopping center as the Southern Skillet.

Richard Bowen was the second owner of the business, taking over in 1968 from the original founder, John Strickland. “It’s been here ever since,” said Bowen of the move. He recalled how the dry cleaning process had changed in the forty years he’s known it.

“In every industry there have been improvements in the business,” recalled Bowen. “The equipment to clean the clothes and wash the clothes. There have been advancements along the way, but the process is still the same. You have to wash them, rinse them, dry them and all that. Then press it. The pressing has not changed a great deal. It still requires a great deal of effort. It’s a labor-intensive business.

“The dry cleaning of the clothes has improved and become more efficient,” he continued. “Keeping track of the garments has been computerized. But the ironing is still as labor intensive as it ever was,” he added. Shirts in particular are still the most troublesome of garments to clean. Once through the wash, each shirt has to be pressed – five times. Once each for the sleeves, twice for the body (front and back) and then the collar.

“One of the most time-consuming items to do is the shirt. It looks so simple but by the time its finished, you handle the shirt maybe 15 times before it’s ready,” laughed Clara Kim, the current owner of Roswell Cleaners. So each shirt is done by hand on several specialized pressing machines.

Current owners, Clara and Quong Kim, took over the business in 2008, leaving California for Roswell when they heard it was one of the best towns in the country. They are now the fifth owners of Roswell Cleaners, continuing the tradition that made the business so strong.

“If you look good, we look good.” That’s the motto that hangs on the wall above the entrance and one that every owner has taken to heart. Only the utmost care is taken with garments and the speediness and professionalism of the staff is unparalleled. They must be doing it right to have survived over half a century. That’s a lot of repeat customers going away with not only clean clothes, but also taking advantage of the shoe repair and alterations as well as leather and drapery service. There’s even a drive-thru window so, even in poor weather, there’s no need to get you or your clean clothing wet.

There must be a lot of happy Roswell Cleaners customers in th­e area – because, even after 60 years, the business is looking very, very good. So happy birthday, Roswell Cleaners. May you have many more.

Roswell Cleaners can be found at 1013 Alpharetta St. in Roswell (in the same shopping center as the Southern Skillet). Wish them a happy birthday and receive a 20 percent discount and special gift. Contact them at 770-645-7646.