GREENBELT, Md. — Bharmani Cleaners, anchored by friends Dan Patel, Neel Patel, and Kam Patel, has agreed to open six ZIPS Dry Cleaners over the next several years. The first ZIPS already open is located at 1531 Deerfield Parkway in Buffalo Grove, Ill., a Northwest suburb of Chicago.
“Working with the ZIPS team has been a wonderful experience,” Dan Patel says. “Drew and his support staff have been there every step of the way. Growing up in Joliet, the Illinois suburbs are a big part of who we are. Now, we get to give back and serve the community. We couldn’t be happier.”
“We are very excited to welcome the Bharmani team to the ZIPS family,” says Drew Ritger, ZIPS CEO. “We have wanted to service the Chicagoland area for a long time. Now Dan and his hard-working crew provide us with that opportunity.”
Though no other addresses have been announced, the franchise says, “Bharmani Cleaners is eyeing the Northwest Chicago suburbs for the other five locations.”
Ritger adds: “There are plenty of folks who will now be able to enjoy our same-day, low-price dry cleaning, and when the deal is all said and done, it will mean 100-plus jobs to the area.”
When all is said and done, the franchise says, the local development will occupy approximately 20,400-24,000 square feet of commercial real estate.
The franchise says it is also, “Leading the way in the search for new environmentally friendly practices, such as its use of biodegradable plastic bags and its hanger recycling program. ZIPS recycles thousands of hangers each year, uses 100-percent biodegradable plastic bags, and focuses on continuing to reduce water usage and waste production.”
Founded in 1996, ZIPS points out that it touts a same-day, one-price business model. “It doesn’t matter if the item is a necktie, a coat or a pair of pants, the price is $2.49,” it adds.
The Chicagoland expansion, it relates, comes at a time when the company continues to rapidly expand its national footprint. Today, there are more than 50 locations open and operating in six states.
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