Cleaners changes hands

Bri Brasher
NLJ Reporter
 
After a successful 33 years under the ownership of Doran and Rosemary Hines, Modern Cleaners, both business and building, have been sold to Shane and Brenna Crawford, of Newcastle. 
Meanwhile, the Hineses will continue the embroidery side of their business in a different location. Graphic Designs moved to a new building on Main Street just down the block and next to Ramsey Real Estate. Hines’ daughter Angie Gravos will continue managing the embroidery business, a job she’s held for the past 21 years. The family hopes to have Graphic Design’s signage up soon.
“We opened the dry cleaning business and 10 years later, we put our embroidery machines in the front—two businesses running in the building,” Rosemary said. “We enjoyed both of them, but we decided to move our embroidery business and sell the cleaners. We left the cleaners in very capable hands.”
Modern Cleaners first came to Newcastle in 1945, switching hands several times until the Hineses bought the property and business from Charles R. Fowler and Vicki Fowler in 1986, according to local historian Leonard Cash. Now, Shane and Brenna Crawford will take their turn, operating it as Crawford’s Modern Cleaners. 
“My husband and I have always been interested in having a small business, and we really love this location on Main Street. It’s a piece of this town where my husband has lived his entire life,” Brenna said. 
Brenna — who will spearhead the day-to-day work at the business — said that the timing meshed well with the opportunity to buy Modern Cleaners. While sad to leave her 18-year career as activities director at the Weston County Manor, Brenna said, owning a small business in Newcastle has always been a dream for Shane and her. Brenna said that Modern Cleaners is a business that the Newcastle community will benefit from keeping, a sentiment that she and the Hines family share.
“Newcastle needs a dry cleaners, so we wanted to turn it over to somebody that we knew would keep it operating,” Rosemary said.
According to Rosemary, the Hineses have known Shane’s dad, Dick Crawford, and his late wife, Beth, for years. She said that Angie went to school with Shane. Rosemary said it’s nice to know they are turning their business over to a family that has an established business presence in the community, and in getting to know Shane and Brenna, she feels the two families can depend on each another. 
To make the arrangement even better, the Hineses are staying on to help make a smooth transition between owners and assist Brenna in learning the tricks of the trade. Rosemary said there is much more to the cleaning business than meets the eye, which is one of the reasons why they decided to split the two businesses. The space was crowded, and both businesses were busy all the time. 
“I’m not getting any younger, and it is hard work. But enjoyable!” Rosemary said.
The close proximity between the two businesses, she said, will allow the Hineses to check in and help as Brenna gets up and running. She said Brenna is very quick to pick up the skills needed, and they will be checking in less and less as time goes on. 
Brenna laughed.
“I have a lot to learn. I have a long ways to go!” she said. “Right now, I’m really focused on learning the ins and outs to put out the same quality product that Rosemary has been putting out for 30 years.”
The small-town camaraderie doesn’t stop there for either family. Rosemary said that there are generations worth of relationships that come with owning a small business in Newcastle and that it’s what makes the business enjoyable. 
“We had the loyalest customers I think you could ever get. They stuck with us through thick and thin. We enjoyed all of our customers — got to know some of them quite well,” said Rosemary. “Stop in! Come down the street and visit us — buy some embroidery, or both!”
Brenna too said she is excited to be out in the community, chatting with people she knows well in a business that serves Newcastle well. As official owners of the business since January, Brenna said, she is already hard at work laundering shirts, pants, tablecloths, comforters and more. Eventually, the Crawfords said, they will put their own spin on the property, though they said they will always maintain the integrity of the business built by the Hines family and honor the history of the building. 
“We thought about replacing the sign, but so many people have made comments to us about how much it makes them think of Main Street as part of downtown Newcastle. So we decided to keep the sign and keep part of Newcastle’s history,” Brenna said. 
Brenna said she has encountered “awesome, loyal customers so far.” She also noted that she is excited to continue the pickup and delivery service to Upton. 
While Brenna and Shane tackle their new adventure at Crawford’s Modern Cleaners, Rosemary and Angie, with Doran’s help, will continue with Graphic Designs just down the street. Rosemary said she and Angie have always worked well together, so the partnership continues.
“I’m pretty proud to say that in the 21, 22 years, there was only about two times that there were any ruffled feathers. I’m pretty proud of us, that’s good for people working together that long,” Rosemary said.