Ortonville – At 14, lifelong Brandon resident Phil Bowles worked for Clairmount Cleaners in Berkley, Mich.
Now at 41, Phil and his wife Erica own and operate both the cleaning plant in Berkley and since April have extended their dry cleaning service to Ortonville.
‘It’s a family business,? said Erica Bowles who explains that she met her husband and former supervisor at the Berkley Clairmount Cleaners in 1990 where she was an employee.
Family owned since 1929, Phil purchased the Berkley business and eventually formed a permanent partnership with Erica to continue the family-owned business tradition. The couple married in 1997.
After taking a four-year hiatus to raise their two children, Erica and Phil’s 17-year-old daughter now manages the Ortonville store.
‘I bring the kids in here in the morning and my stepdaughter comes in,? said Erica.
‘All in the family so to speak,? she chuckled.
Located at 440 M-15 at South Street, Clairmount Cleaners is in a place where Erica says her husband has always wanted to have a store.
‘When we saw the building was empty we decided this would be a good place for it and had it in three days,? she explained, adding that their landlord took care of everything from painting the walls to ripping out the carpet for the Bowles.
Erica says the easy start to fulfilling her husband’s lifelong dream of opening a store in Ortonville has been complemented by the reception they have received by their customers.
‘Everybody here has been very welcoming, so nice and friendly,? she added.
In turn Erica says she hopes to give their customers the lowest prices in the area on dry cleaning services on everything from suits, sweaters, rain and winter gear, hunting gear, equestrian apparel, tuxedo shirts, and lab coats to down-filled sleepers, pillowcases and sheets.
‘You just drop it off here, we send it to the Berkley plant that night and it’s returned the next day,? Eric said adding that laundering, pressing and starching men’s shirts are a laundry specialty.
Store hours are 6 a.m. to 7: p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; and closed Sunday. (248) 627-9858.