After 61 years of keeping JP’s shirts clean and trousers pressed, the family-owned Classic Cleaners at 650 Centre St. has been sold. The last day the local Pavone family operated the cleaners was May 3.
The new owners, the Hong family, own other cleaners in the area, including some in Brookline and Ideal Cleaners at 484 Centre St.
“I knew it was the time for me” to retire, Mike Pavone, son of the original owner, told the Gazette last week. “My kids have other paths in their lives they want to follow.”
Alex Hong told the Gazette he and his parents plan to renovate the location and install “state-of-the-art equipment,” noting that Classic Cleaners still use hand-written tickets.
“We want to modernize,” Hong said.
Pavone said he plans to focus his retirement on golf and attending car shows, his “two passions.”
“And if my knees hold out, I’ll keep playing hockey,” he said.
The sale happened unexpectedly quickly, Pavone said.
“I wasn’t sure the new owners would go through, then all of a sudden, they came in and wanted [the deal] to be done as soon as possible,” he said.
While the Hongs plan to keep the name, it is unclear when the renovations will be done.
Pavone still owns the building at Centre and Green streets, where he is known for supporting other local businesses as tenants.
Mike Pavone, son of the original owner of Classic Cleaners, poses in front of some the awards garnered since 1953. (Gazette Photo by Rebeca Oliveira)