Long-time customers of Kwala-T Cleaners may have been growing concerned about the lack of dry-cleaning availability in Moose Jaw following its closure, but customers no longer have to consider fuelling up for a trip to Regina as the family-run business is now entering the next generation with Revive Garment Care.
Starting with a rather modest grand opening on April 2, Revive Garment Care is now run by Shelly Evans’ daughter, Marissa.
“My parents owned Kwala-T Cleaners,” stated Marissa Hann, owner of Revive Garment Care.
“I’m the tailor there, so I was going to just start (my own tailoring business). So then when they decided they were going to close, myself and a dry cleaner in Regina decided we would just do a depot here so we still have a dry cleaner (in town).”
The decision to carry on the family business maintains a dry-cleaning service in Moose Jaw and loyal customers can still turn to a provider they know, like, and trust. Most of the services will remain the same and the same quality of service carries on.
The opening of the new location saw no ribbon cutting or celebration, and Hann said everyone is just tired from the move. It’s clear that she wants to get down to work and this gives evidence of her industrious nature. As it stands, Hann said her biggest concern right now is trying to find everything moved in from the old location.
As a show of appreciation, the new building’s landlords dropped off an assortment of baked goods in an act of kindness, but nothing further is being planned to mark the occasion.
The new site came from a practical decision and is smaller than the original building. Hann said this can benefit customers as they no longer have to walk through the sewing room to find tailoring services in the far back.
To help with the transition, Hann partnered with Busy Bee Cleaners in Regina to allow for a high volume of dry-cleaning services and the partnering company makes a daily commute to pick up and drop off garments.
The idea for a new location and a re-branding came after Evans made the decision to step down from her role and retire as owner of the business.
Her mother used to own Kwala-T Cleaners and now she continues to work for her daughter, Hann.
“I always hated the Kwala-T Cleaners name, and I always hated the spelling, so I really didn’t want to keep that,” Hann admitted with a good-spirited chuckle.
The name ‘Revive’ was chosen by Hann as she felt it better represented the services she offered. She didn’t state it overtly, but this also marks her transition to ownership with a distinct, clean demarcation.
“And with choosing ‘Revive,’ I just thought it was a good word that kind of goes with cleaning… or altering something. I just liked it.”
Now that Kwala-T Cleaners has permanently closed, Revive Garment Care continues the family legacy.
“My main goal is to keep a dry cleaner available in Moose Jaw,” Hann said.
“The whole (city) and surrounding area all came to us for dry cleaning, so this way we can still offer that (service).”
Revive Garment Care now offers many of the same services as the former Kwala-T Cleaners. This range of services includes a wash-and-fold laundry service, dry cleaning, and garment tailoring and alternations which is Hann’s specialty.
For more information, the business can be reached at 306-693-4666 or by email at ReviveGarmentCare@Outlook.com. You can also follow the Facebook page, “Revive Garment Care.”
Revive Garment Care is located at 690 Fairford Street West and is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
