County Ensures Residents Can Retrieve Belongings Despite Eviction Of Dry Cleaner

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

eb/dryclean.pr 00-313

Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
Sue Rogan, 240-777-3636

For Immediate Release: August 24, 2000

COUNTY ENSURES RESIDENTS CAN
RETRIEVE BELONGINGS DESPITE
EVICTION OF DRY CLEANER

Consumers will still be able to recover their dry-cleaning, thanks to quick action by the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA).

Investigators at DHCA's Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) received notice from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office that "Cleaner Than a Whistle" drycleaners, located at 7216 New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park, was due to be evicted on August 23 for nonpayment of rent. The landlord planned to place any dry-cleaning left at the store on the sidewalk in front of the building.

DCA contacted the landlord, who agreed to allow the dry-cleaning to remain in the building after the eviction and allow DCA access at certain times so that staff can try and help consumers recover their dry-cleaning.

DCA staff will be at the store to assist consumers at the following times:

Tuesday, August 29, 10 a.m. to noon; Thursday, August 31, 1 to 3 p.m.;

Tuesday, September 5, 4 to 7 p.m.; Friday, September 8, 10 a.m. to noon;

Wednesday, September 13, 3 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;

Tuesday, September 19, 4 to 7 p.m.; and Thursday, September 28, 4 to 7 p.m.

Consumers wishing to claim items should bring their dry-cleaning ticket and personal identification.

"The landlord is allowing the clothes to remain in the store only until he finds a new tenant -- so this schedule may change," said George Rose, Chief of DCA. "We're trying to make the best of a bad situation. Without the cooperation of the landlord and the Sheriff's Office, all of this clothing would have been out in the street."

Consumers are advised to call DCA at 240-777-3636 to confirm that DCA staff will be at the store at the scheduled time. DCA is currently investigating whether the merchant violated County consumer laws.

For more information, call 240-777-3636.

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