G.O. Keller's, a family-owned Plainfield institution, is closing after 130 years
PLAINFIELD – A family-owned business, which has stood at the corner of South and Leland avenues for 130 years, will be closing at the end of the month.
G.O. Keller's cleaners, 1201 South Ave., which has been in operation since 1894 as one of the largest residential, commercial and institutional full-service dry-cleaning facilities in New Jersey, is set to close July 31.
A notice posted on the front window reminds customers to come pick up their items, some of which are still inside, according to owner Vince Soutelle.
Soutelle, 84, said he's retiring after running the business for 60 years.
"It's time, it's time for me to retire," he said, adding there was no one take over the business. "It's been a challenge, it's been fulfilling, everything has been good."
Soutelle said his father had worked and ran the business while he went to college and then into the Army. After his time in the military, his father asked if he wanted to go into the dry-cleaning business and after his father got sick, he took over.
"I was a young kid that had to learn fast," he said.
Over the years improvements have been made, other stores were purchased, and several processes were automated. Soutelle said he recently sold his store in Westfield, but still owns the building.
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"That's how we kept up with the times and it seemed to be very successful," Soutelle said. "We're known for quality."
He recalled the Courier News had previously named his business The Best of the Best in Central Jersey.
The closing of the 15,000-square-foot business appears to make way for another South Avenue mixed-use redevelopment project.
Soutelle said the property has been sold to a developer for a planned mixed-use building.
The website for Iron Ore Properties, a real estate development firm in Millburn, shows plans for 71 units plus retail at the corner of South and Leland avenues, one of Plainfield’s most prominent corners.
"Iron Ore Properties is turning a vacating commercial site into one of Union County’s nicest buildings less than a block from the Neatherwood NJ Transit Train Station. The building will feature a large outdoor amenity deck, gym, club room and huge shared workspace," the website states.
The website features a rendering of a five-story building with what appears to be retail space on the ground floor and housing units above at 1203 South Ave.
Plainfield Chief of Staff Jazz Clayton-Hunt said the project is expected to consist of one- and two-bedroom units. Additionally, ground-floor retail will be between 750 and 1,000 square feet, and 75 parking spaces will be available.
G.O. Keller's has been a certified Sanitone Master Drycleaner, a designation gained by only 5% of the nation’s dry cleaners, according to its website, and has specialized in everything from drapery, carpet and oriental rug cleaning to cold fur storage and platinum shirt laundering.
"We did things the ordinary dry cleaner doesn't do, and we perfected that. We had trucks on the road picking up at the house," said Soutelle, who referenced the 1930s trucks, photos of which are on the company's website.
Soutelle said he has a sentimental feeling about the business ending.
"It's been good to me, and we had a lot of satisfied happy customers, which we were very proud of," he said.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: G.O. Keller's dry cleaner in Plainfield NJ closing after 130 years
