Far from high and dry

Adam Burton adds services to keep Next Day Dry Cleaning going

POST FALLS — Adam Burton has owned and operated Next Day Dry Cleaning for 26 years. He’s enjoyed the interaction with customers, some who have been with him more than two decades. He’s looked forward to working every day. He had no doubts Next Day would be around for the next decade.

But in a matter of weeks, everything changed.

“Almost overnight, it was like somebody turned the light switch off on the cleaning,” Burton said.

Even before Gov. Brad Little’s stay-home order last week, business at 606 N. Spokane St. had slowed with the coronavirus outbreak. Since that order, and with many people afraid of contracting the flu-like illness, dry cleaning has dried up dramatically.

Burton said that while social distancing is helping to slow the spread of coronavirus, it also means people are not working — they’re staying home and may not be wearing clothes that they would normally have dry cleaned.

Weddings and funerals, with people usually wearing their best clothes, send a lot of work his way, but those are pretty much on hold until this health crisis ends.

“It’s tight. People just aren’t out, but I think it will settle down,” he said. “Everyone is trying to figure this thing out.”

To boost business, Burton has launched an alternate way of dropping off laundry and started a curbside drop-off and drive-thru service, so customers won’t have to leave their car.

People can put their clothes in a bag, fill out a card with their information, and leave it in a no-contact, 24-hour drop box in front of the store. When they come to pick up their laundry, he’ll set it right in the back of their vehicle or hand it to them.

Burton is also offering free home delivery and pick up.

“We have put into place some new procedures which we hope will help people feel safe dropping off items,” he said.

The response has been solid.

“It’s working out pretty good,” he said.

Burton, a third-generation dry cleaning operator, bought the business in 1994. This is easily the most challenging time for his livelihood he’s faced.

“We haven’t ever seen anything like this,” he said “It’s probably going to reduce our volume by over 50 percent.”

Burton employs eight people and wants to continue to be able to do so.

“I love being part of this community and serving our customers, some of whom are like family,” he said.

His biggest worry is the longevity of small businesses. He said they “have sort of taken it in the chin” with this pandemic and stay-home order, and he fears for their future.

“Restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries and so many other neighborhood businesses may not make it,” he said. “Collectively, mom and pop operations provide a lot of jobs. The same businesses provide all of the character and diversity so important to all of our communities.”

But Burton remains hopeful.

“It’s going to be challenging,” he said. “But we’re here to stay.”