OPERATING as the sole dry cleaner in the North West, Mount Isa Dry Cleaners has ceased trade after 42 years in business.
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Owner and director, Chantel Paul, took over the management of the family business a year and a half ago and was devastated to close the business.
“Unfortunately it is a situation out of my control that is nothing to do with the business itself,” Mrs Paul said.
“My grandmother owns the building and with her age and deterioration the bank have now stood in and said she needs to sell the building.
“Due to conflict of interest the bank will not allow me to purchase the building therefore I made the decision to close the business.”
Over 40 years ago, Mount Isa Dry Cleaners was started in a backyard at the top of Camooweal Street before the business became more established and relocated to 113 Camooweal Street in 1982.
Mrs Paul has received much outcry from the wider Mount Isa community.
“The community have been massively affected by losing their only dry cleaner in the North West,” she said.
“The closest dry cleaner is now in Townsville, with an industrial laundry in Cloncurry.
“I have had people who don’t live in Mount Isa anymore contact me and said as a child everyone knew Mount Isa Dry Cleaners and it was a town icon. Now an era has ended.”
Due to the way the business was set up and run, Mrs Paul said it was too difficult to pack up and move somewhere else.
“My husband and I did look at moving the business to another premises and it was quite a hefty price to move everything,” she said.
“Having to purchase a new building and get council approval for drainage and gas it was a bit much.
It was something that we had to make a decision with the bank closing no matter what, so we decided to close the business.”
Still actively involved in the community, Mrs Paul hopes one day after her pregnancy she may be able to open a business again.
All machinery has been removed from the premises and locals with items at the premises are advised to pick them up before the business officially closes on August 5.