BERKLEY, Mich. — Martinizing International LLC, an affiliate of The Huntington Co. LLC, a multi-concept franchisor, has acquired Martinizing, the largest U.S.-based franchise drycleaning brand, along with Dry Cleaning Station, a full-service dry cleaner.
The additions of Martinizing—with 422 locations in eight countries—and Dry Cleaning Station—with 12 U.S. locations—means The Huntington Co. and its affiliates’ portfolio of franchise brands that provide textile restoration, drycleaning and laundry services now has more than 750 locations.
“We are very proud to add one of the oldest and most recognizable names in the drycleaning industry to our family of brands,” says Wayne Wudyka, Huntington’s CEO. “To Martinizing, we will bring significant support from our corporate office, comprised of a truly top-notch team of professionals in each department, including IT, sales, operations, marketing, training, legal and accounting.”
Huntington’s “hands-on experience” of running multiple drycleaning plants dating back to 1992 has served as the “genesis for the growth, development and success” of its multiple franchise concepts, he says.
Martinizing will maintain offices in Milford, Ohio, along with its home office here in Berkley.
Founded in 1949, Martinizing became a worldwide brand and the largest drycleaning franchisor in the U.S. following the return of George Strike to the family business in 1978, Huntington reports. Strike, who was a co-owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team and renowned for his community service, died in 2012.
“I am very optimistic that my father’s passion and vision will be continued under this new ownership,” says son Tony Strike, who was Martinizing’s president in 1988-2006. “I firmly believe that Martinizing is in the right hands from a culture and resource standpoint, and I look forward to what The Huntington Co. will bring to the organization.”
“George Strike created quite a legacy for this company,” Wudyka says, adding that “we look forward to building on all that he was able to achieve.”
Dry Cleaning Station licensed its first store in Columbus, Ohio, in 1993. Today, the company offers a full-service retail store that provides quality dry cleaning and shirt processing on premises, as well as pickup and delivery services and satellite convenience locations in some areas, Huntington says.
Other franchises in the Huntington family of brands include 1-800-DryClean, bizziebox, Pressed 4 Time and the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network.
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