Lord Chesterfield Tailors (Gone)
Warren, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

There's something reassuring about an old tailor shop that looks like it's been helping people dress their best for generations. The classic storefront sign gave this downtown business plenty of character and let everyone know exactly where to go when a suit needed altering or a special outfit called for the perfect fit.

The Lord Chesterfield Tailors opened in 1953 and spent the next 50 years serving downtown Warren with custom tailoring and alterations. The familiar storefront sign became part of the streetscape, quietly welcoming customers year after year.

Like many longtime neighborhood businesses, Lord Chesterfield Tailors eventually reached the end of its run. The shop closed in 2003, and the classic sign disappeared with it. Whether it was saved or simply scrapped remains a mystery. Fortunately, photos like this preserve a little piece of what once stood along East Market Street and remind us of a time when every downtown seemed to have its own trusted tailor.

UPDATE: Lord Chesterfield Tailors closed in 2003 after serving downtown Warren for 50 years. The longtime storefront sign has been removed, and its whereabouts are unknown. 07-26

M-G-M Cleaners (Gone)
Royal Oaks, MI
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Now there's a sign that knows how to get your attention. With its jagged "zapper" design and bold promise of 2-day service, this was the kind of roadside advertising that was impossible to overlook. The M-G-M Cleaners had all the style and optimism of the mid-century era, when businesses weren't afraid to make a statement.

The M-G-M Cleaners was part of a family business that had been serving the Detroit area since 1945. This Royal Oak location greeted generations of motorists traveling busy Woodward Avenue, with its eye-catching sign becoming just as memorable as the cleaner itself.

The "2 Day Service" message may not sound especially fast today, but it reflected a time when dependable service mattered just as much as speed. Combined with the striking design, it gave the business a personality that modern signs often lack.

Today, both the cleaner and its wonderful zapper sign are gone. Like so many classic roadside signs, it disappeared as the property changed over the years, leaving old photos as a reminder of another colorful piece of roadside Americana.

UPDATE: The M-G-M Cleaners location in Royal Oak has closed, and the distinctive zapper sign has been removed. Its current whereabouts are unknown. 07-26

Sudden Service Cleaners (Gone)
Columbus, OH
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The name alone is enough to catch your attention. Sudden Service Cleaners promised fast turnaround long before today's same-day expectations, and the roadside sign made sure motorists knew exactly what was offered. If you needed your clothes cleaned—or even a tuxedo for a special occasion—this was the place to stop.

Sudden Service became a familiar name in both Columbia, Missouri, and Columbus, Ohio. The Columbia business opened in 1924 and spent decades serving the community before eventually adopting the name Tiger Cleaners. The Columbus location, meanwhile, has since disappeared from the roadside.

Like many longtime neighborhood cleaners, the business evolved with the times. While the Columbia operation continues under its new name, the familiar Sudden Service signs have been removed, bringing an end to another recognizable piece of roadside advertising.

UPDATE: The Columbia, Missouri, business remains open today as Tiger Cleaners after rebranding from Sudden Service Cleaners. The Columbus, Ohio, location has closed, and the original Sudden Service signs are no longer standing. 07-26

Uptown Laundry (Gone)
Grand Rapids, MI
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

Sometimes the best signs are the ones built right into the building. Hanging over the entrance, this simple sign welcomed customers for decades and let everyone know they had arrived at the Uptown Laundry. It wasn't flashy, but it fit the building perfectly and became part of the streetscape along Division Avenue.

The Uptown Laundry operated from this downtown Grand Rapids location from 1951 until 2002. For more than 50 years, it served as the company's main cleaning plant while customers came and went beneath the familiar sign over the front door.

Like many downtown businesses, the property eventually found a new purpose. The old plant closed in 2002, and the building was later repurposed. While the original Division Avenue location is gone, the Uptown Cleaners name continues to serve customers today from another Grand Rapids location. The old entrance sign has disappeared, but photos like this preserve a small piece of a neighborhood business that quietly served the community for more than half a century.

UPDATE: The original Uptown Laundry location on Division Avenue closed in 2002, and the building has since been repurposed. The business continues to operate elsewhere in Grand Rapids, but the original entrance sign has been removed. 07-26

Micky Cleaners (Gone)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Now there's a promise you don't see every day. "5 Hour Service" is splashed right across the sign, a reminder of a time when neighborhood businesses competed by offering speed, convenience, and a little roadside flair. The Micky Cleanersmade sure everyone passing along Clark Street knew they could get their clothes back in a hurry.

Opened in the 1950s, the Micky Cleaners spent 50 years serving Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Operated by Takeo and Martha Deguchi, the family business became part of the area's historic Japanese American community after the couple rebuilt their lives following World War II.

The sign was every bit as memorable as the business itself. With its bold lettering and promise of five-hour service, it captured an era when customer service was often the best advertising a neighborhood business could have.

The Micky Cleaners eventually closed after five decades in business, and the familiar storefront sign disappeared along with it. Like so many neighborhood landmarks, it lives on today through old photographs and the memories of those who remember seeing it.

UPDATE: Micky Cleaners closed after serving the Lakeview neighborhood for 50 years. The distinctive "5 Hour Service" sign has been removed. 07-26

Sunshine Cleaners
IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Six-hour service? Apparently someone figured that was just enough time to get the job done right. While other cleaners bragged about one-hour or even five-hour service, the Sunshine Cleaners proudly advertised six. Maybe that extra hour made all the difference. Whatever the reason, it certainly made for a memorable sign.

Like many neighborhood cleaners of the era, Sunshine Cleaners used its roadside marquee to promise quick turnaround and friendly service. Back then, speed was a major selling point, and signs like this let passing motorists know they could drop off their clothes in the morning and have them back later that same day.

Even without the full story, the sign is worth remembering. It's a fun reminder of an era when dry cleaners competed with catchy slogans, bold lettering, and just enough roadside personality to make you take a second look.

UPDATE: The location and history of this Sunshine Cleaners have not been verified. The current status of the business and its roadside sign remain unknown. 07-26

Trim n' Tidy Cleaners
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

Now this is the kind of cleaner that was built to catch your eye. From the dramatic flying-wing canopy to the vintage marquee promising same-day service, everything about the building reflects the optimism and style of the automobile age. The Trim n' Tidy Cleaners has been turning heads along Higgins Avenue for decades.

The drive-thru design wasn't just for looks. Customers could pull under the sweeping canopy, drop off their clothes, and be back on the road in just a few minutes. It's the kind of thoughtful mid-century design that has become increasingly rare.

The marquee is just as memorable. Although years of Chicago weather have left it faded and rusty, it still has plenty of personality. You can almost imagine the neon glowing above the entrance as motorists pulled in for another quick stop.

Best of all, the Trim n' Tidy Cleaners is still in business. While many classic neighborhood cleaners have disappeared, this one continues serving the Jefferson Park neighborhood, and its wonderful mid-century architecture remains one of the area's best roadside survivors.

UPDATE: Trim n' Tidy Cleaners remains open in Chicago. The vintage marquee and distinctive drive-thru canopy still survive, although the sign shows plenty of wear from decades of exposure. 07-26

State Cleaners (Gone)
Martins Ferry, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Now that's a marquee. Big, bold, and impossible to miss, it was the kind of roadside sign that made motorists take notice as they drove along South Zane Highway. The State Cleaners had the sort of sign every neighborhood business wished it could afford. 11-00

Opened in 1956, the State Cleaners served the Martins Ferry community for decades. The grand marquee became the business's signature, standing proudly out front and welcoming generations of customers with a style that fit the golden age of roadside advertising.

The sign was every bit as memorable as the cleaner itself. As an added bonus, look closely at this photo and you'll spot RoadsidePeek contributor Steve Felder in the background, camera in hand, photographing the marquee from another angle. It's a fun little moment that makes this photo even more special.

Unfortunately, time caught up with both the business and the sign. The original marquee was replaced years ago by a modern plastic sign, and today even that has disappeared. Recent imagery also indicates the State Cleaners has permanently closed, bringing an end to a business that had served the community for generations.

UPDATE: State Cleaners appears to have permanently closed. The original grand marquee was replaced years ago, and the replacement sign has since been removed, leaving no trace of the classic roadside landmark. 07-26