WHY DOWNTOWN?

by Oscar Hansen, Independent Writer  

 Let me start way back in 1973. Just graduating from 
Northwest Missouri

 State with a Degree in Industrial Health and Safety and Physical

 Education I started my working career with Big Smith, Inc., located at the

 corner of 4th and 
Francis Street

 as an Industrial Engineer.

I remember that Downtown was always on the go: lots of shopping,

 workplaces, nice restaurants, hotels, etc. The St. Joseph Jaycees were an

 integral part of keeping the action going Downtown. I served on the Board

 of Directors of the Jaycees the year that the Apple Blossom Parade was

 re-started, we also sponsored the Miss St. Joseph Pageant…wow what two

 great projects!!!

Enough reminiscing…I left St Joe in February, 1975, to continue my

 career in Apparel Manufacturing. By leaving St. Joe, I mean for 29 years. I

 returned to 
St. Joseph in 2004 when Cintas Corp. acquired the NUWAY

 Uniform Rental Company. I continued with Cintas until 2006 when I decided

 that I wanted the opportunity to go into business for myself and stay

 in a city that I felt would continue to grow.

In May of 2006, I purchased Beck Road Cleaners, located at 3606 Beck

 Road, and Belt Mitchell Cleaners, located at 
3616 Mitchell Avenue

. The

 company has since opened a location in 
Maryville, Missouri, and does the

 cleaning for the HYVEE in 
St. Joseph and in 
Maryville. We also do

 pick-up and delivery to businesses in 
St. Joseph, 
Savannah and 
Maryville.

What’s next? Well, we have opened a drop store in Downtown St. Joseph

 located in the 

Kirkpatrick 
Building at 
622 Francis Street

.

“Why Downtown?” you ask. Well, Downtown is revitalizing; it is going to

 get really amazingly busy and exciting with growth and I want to be a

 part of the resurgence. 
Opportunity knocked, thanks to Larry Buck

 introducing me to Winston Bennett. Winston’s enthusiasm and his making an

 offer not to be refused made it an easy decision to locate a drop store

 in the heart of Downtown. 

We offer Dry Cleaning, Laundry, Alterations, Wedding Dress Cleaning

 with Boxing and preserving option, Shoe Repair and Polishing and Leather

 Cleaning.

Am I excited to be Downtown? You bet!!! It’s becoming a fast moving

 train and it is a train I want to be on for the long ride. So come on

 Downtown to Quality 1st Cleaners and let us “Exceed Your Expectations!!”