 Maroney's Cleaners (Closed)
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan
According to an employee, who has been in Phoenix for the last 50 years
and works at Maroney's Cleaners, Viacom owns the building
and leases it to the Maroney's Cleaners. Word is that Viacom wasn't very
good about taking care of the building, and now they are giving Maroney's the boot and will be tearing
the building down.
Maroney's has been in business since 1911. Apparently this building was
built in the early 50's so the sign must date back to about the same time.
The family that owns the Maroney's Cleaners now, bought it in the 50's
from the original family.
Maroney's will now be consolidating the business into one location at
32nd Street and Indian School Road (shown below), which was built in the
late 50's by the 2nd owners. Many thanks to Elgin MacMillan for info.
 Maroney's Cleaners
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan
That shopping center eventually faced the wrecking crew as well. During the Christmas holidays in December 2021, the Arizona Vintage Sign Coalition dismantled the towering Maroney’s marquee one section at a time. Eight sections went into storage in Mesa, preserving the sign before demolition took away the building beneath it.
UPDATE: Maroney’s continues operating after relocating within the same Indian School Road intersection. The former shopping-center building is gone, but its rescued sign has been stored for future restoration and display. The laundry found another home, and thankfully those great big letters were given a chance to do the same. 11-26
Maroney's
on 32nd
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan |
Maroney's
on 32nd rear view
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan |
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 Kachina Cleaners
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan
Check out the sign and building for the Kachina Dry Cleaners,
located in Phoenix, AZ. This business is still owned and operated by the
original family. According to the son of the original owner who still
runs the business, this building was built in 1959. Many thanks to Elgin MacMillan for info.
The family’s laundry history began even earlier. Jim and Bessie “Kiki” Tsantilas, Greek immigrants, entered the cleaning business in Cleveland in 1929 before eventually heading west and opening Kachina Cleaners in Phoenix.
Their son Constantine “Dean” Tsantilas and his wife Stella later operated the shop, followed by a third generation of the family. That adds up to nearly a century of cleaning experience, although not every garment was probably meant to survive that long.
 Kachina Cleaners
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan
Kachina developed a reputation for handling more difficult items such as leather, suede, fur, and draperies along with the usual shirts, dresses, and suits.
UPDATE: Kachina Cleaners remains open at its longtime Indian School Road location. The family business and its familiar storefront sign continue serving Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood. 09-26 |
 Acme Cleaners (Demolished)
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Gorb70
The Acme Cleaners and Laundry sign was a leftover from the days when this neighborhood cleaner operated near 15th Avenue and Van Buren Street. The business served Phoenix from about 1955 until 1965, but its old roadside sign remained behind long after the last load of laundry was finished. 03-07
The Acme name sounds like it belongs in a Road Runner cartoon, although this cleaner appears to have had no known connection with falling anvils or malfunctioning rockets.
UPDATE: The former Acme Cleaners property has been demolished and redeveloped. Its old roadside sign has also disappeared from the Van Buren Street landscape. 09-26
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