Published: October 07, 2009 11:26 am      

Village Cleaners closed, hopes to reopen soon

Ron Kline and Patti Robinson, who operate Village Cleaners, 20 E. Cedar St., were forced to close the shop on Aug. 21 because of financial problems. They are hoping to reopen the shop this month.

“The day we announced the closing, people were hugging us and crying with us,” Kline said. “We have the determination to reopen and know that there has to be a way to turn this around.”

The duo, who have been running the cleaners since June 2008, stuggled financially from the beginning. They opened their doors with only $500 in their business account and when multiple parts of their 60-year-old dry cleaning equipment started breaking down, it became too costly to repair. They also had trouble making mortgage payments because the previous owner didn’t have a mortgage for the shop. They were forced to shut down.

“It doesn’t matter how sucecssful a business is,” he said. “When equipment fails and money isn’t there to repair it, it’s done and I have been busting my hump since we closed to try to get a way back in there. Right now we are trying to come up with rent to hold on to the place.”

Right now, Kline and Robinson are working on a comprehensive business plan and are planning to start the business from scratch. That includes adding new equipment and items. Kline said they have been working with the Greater Zionsville Chamber of Commerce, Boone County Economic Development Commission and the Zionsville Town Council for financial assistance and business advice.

Although the business is working it’s way out of debt, the process is lagging and they are tied up in backruptcy. Despite those bumps in the road, Kline hopes the cleaners will be open sometime this month.