Specialties
Dry-Cleaning
Drycleaning
Tailoring
Alterations
Bridal Gown Cleaning and Preservation
Leather and Suede Cleaning
Costumes and uniforms
Household Items
History
Established in 1911.
The French Cleaners was started in 1911 by Morris Gassner. The original store was located on Pavillion Street in Hartford, CT in the back of Bellevue Square and was later moved to its current location in 1925.
The original name was French Dye Works and was later changed as the dyeing of individual garments became less popular.
During the time when Morris was in the cleaning and dyeing business, Benjamin Mellman escaped religious persecution in Russia only to end up in the New York sweat shops. The superb craftsman that he was, coupled with the fact he refused to raise his family in such a deplorable environment, prompted the move to Hartford, Connecticut where he opened a small tailoring shop on Queen Street. He specialized in hand tailoring suits assisted by his wife who was an excellent seamstress. They worked side by side, residing in a room in back of the shop. Hard work and determination met with success, and they moved to the up and coming suburbs of West Hartford, opening a new
Meet the Business Owner
Philip C.
Business Owner
Phil was a former chef and came into the family dry-cleaning business in 1987. He has come to be nationally recognized as an industry expert and innovator. There is no stain that is removable that he cannot remove and is relied on by his customer base of over 10,000 people as well as dry-cleaners from around the country. Due to he unique ability to handle problems that others give up on has brought the tag line "Where Miracles Happen" to the business. Phil believes that every customer is important and goes way beyond the expected in many occasions to please a customer.