Golden Cleaners Ready to Shine on South Street

It has taken some time, but the approvals have been met, the mayor has gone out for the ground breaking ceremony and the real ground breaking is expected to begin later this week.

, which has been located near Burnham Park on Washington Street for over two decades, is moving to a currently vacant lot–130 South St.–where a new 3,465-square-foot cleaners was approved for construction all the way back .

, the attorney representing the owners of Golden Cleaners, said delays in some final approvals tied up the process. With the ceremonial groundbreaking complete, Nish said the owners "are hoping to start right away."

Grace Lee, a family member who also works at the cleaners, said in 2010 the family did not have a choice but to move from their current location, as their lease had been tripled.

The new space would occupy 3,465 square feet, larger than the cleaners' current 2,650 square-foot location. Despite the increased size, Lee told the Planning Board in 2010 that a previous plan to purchase an additional cleaning machine, bringing the cleaners number of main cleaning machines to two, had been nixed, and that the primary reason for the move was not to expand–an issue discussed then by the Planning Board–but because there was no other option.

Mayor Tim Dougherty, who attended the ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday, said the decision by Golden Cleaners to stay in Morristown, rather than move elsewhere, was another example of Morristown being considered a great destination, for both people and businesses.

"Hopefully, as we continue to grow our residential section, there will be enough business for everyone," he said. "We look forward to them having a successful business on South Street."