It all began in 1910 when Mitchell Rogers left St. Petersburg and went to Jacksonville, Florida to take a business course. While working there in a men’s clothing store, he had the idea to start a “pressing club.” Back in 1910 there were no dry cleaners – suits were cleaned by sponging and pressing. The seeds of a future business were sown when Mitchell took his horse and wagon and started picking up clothes along a regular route once or twice a week. |
Friends in St. Petersburg and Clearwater urged young Mitchell and his wife Abbie to come back to St. Petersburg. Even though they had two children at home. Abbie encouraged Mitchell to leave their now prosperous “pressing club” business and vowed to help him get started in St. Petersburg. In September 1916, they opened up a business in a little hole-in-the-wall at 529 Central Avenue. Machinery for cleaning was just starting to be manufactured, and the Rogers bought the first Hoffman Steam Press in Florida. | |
1918 Location |
Since 1918 proved to be a good year, the Rogers decided to invest their profits in a piece of property “way out of town” at 17th Street and Central Avenue. That little store is now the center of the mid-town area near Tropicana Field. In 1980, Rogers opened its main facility at 2018 4th Street North, which handles most of the cleaning services today. | |
Rogers has expanded their business by opening a new location near their original 1918 location and offering garment restoration services to those who experience garment-related disasters. |
1980
Location
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Our Garment Restoration Facility |
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| “It’s our experience and quality that has kept Rogers Cleaners in the forefront of the industry and our commitment to customer satisfaction that will make our services valuable for many years to come.” -M.C Rogers |  |
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