Arlington Hts. dry cleaner leaves with clothing in shop

An Arlington Heights dry cleaner appears to have closed its business — with customers' clothing still inside.

Peter Troost, who represents the owner of the building that houses White Water Cleaners in the 1800 block of South Arlington Heights Road, said he has not been able to contact the people who rent the space and operate the dry cleaners.

Troost, whose company, Troost Memorials, is based in Skokie, said he has a Jan. 26 court date to try to get an eviction order for the dry cleaners because the company is behind on its rent.

However, the people who operate the dry cleaners have not answered his correspondence, and he does not know how to contact them. Troost does not know how long it will take to get an eviction order if the owners cannot be served with notices.

“I'd like to find them,” said Troost. “I haven't got a clue where they are.”

There should be some way for people to retrieve their dry cleaning, said Troost, but he does not know how White Water kept track of who owned what.

Charles Silverman of Kaplan Silverman LLC in Chicago, which specializes in real estate law and foreclosure defense, said Wednesday the judge could allow the notice to be posted on the business if the owners of the dry cleaners can't be found.

The judge could give the landlord possession of the premises as soon as a week after the posting.

However, the Cook County Sheriff's office would have to make the entry and change the locks, and that office is backed up with other evictions, Silverman added.

The people with items at the dry cleaners still own them, said Silverman. It would probably help convince the judge to act quickly if Troost took affidavits from dry cleaning customers or the customers themselves to the court, he added.

Richard Battin, an online editor with the Daily Herald, said he has been to the cleaners four times since Jan. 3 to retrieve his cleaning. The business was locked every time, said Battin.

A neon sign that says “alterations” is lighted, but otherwise the storefront is pretty dark, said Battin.

“When they're open they prop the door open because it's so hot in there,” he said. “That's the first thing I noticed — the door was not propped open.”

Troost said the owners of the cleaning establishment had told him that business was slow. They asked for, and were given, reduced rent.

The dry cleaners has operated there for a number of years, but Troost said he did not know how long. They said nothing to him about leaving, and there a few more years left on the lease.

The Arlington Heights Building Department has gotten calls from customers worried about their clothing, said James McCalister, acting director. He said this is a private business matter, and there is not much the village can do to help people who own items in the shop.

“Hopefully the landlord can reach him,” said McCalister. “He could be on vacation and come back.” McCallister said when called, the dry cleaner's phone goes to busy, and when called at home the owners' phone is disconnected.

Chuck Kobus, permit inspections and license official, said a few years ago this happened with another dry cleaners, but the owner was found and returned customers' orders.

Most of the storefronts in the shopping center are vacant, but Troost said he does have parties interested in renting.