Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners' Stu Crane at his plant in Glyndon.

That's because Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners, tucked away on quiet Central Avenue adjacent to the Glyndon community pool, has been known around these parts as a family-owned and operated business since the 1920s. And thanks to its signature free pick-up and delivery service, few people ever venture to the building where mountains of clothes, drapes, even rugs are cleaned by some of the most advanced equipment in the industry.

But while the dryers, sorters, and other machines may be the latest, a lot about the company has not changed since its founding in those roaring 20s.

Old-Time foundations

In the past few years, Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners owners have spent close to $200,000 upgrading their operation. Some of it is a result of two separate family-owned companies - Glyndon Cleaners and Lord Baltimore Cleaners - merging in 2005 and doing what it takes to compete in today's cost-conscious market.

But a lot about the business still reflects its old-time foundations. Because Glyndon Cleaners grew up amongst the prestigious summer homes, its trademark free pick-up and delivery service was an accommodation of local customers' needs as far back as 1924. Back then, it was a laundry service instead of dry cleaning (something they still offer today).

And because of its Central Avenue location - tucked away in the midst of a residential neighborhood - the company has maintained the free delivery service, only now as a convenience for today's multi-tasking families.

"We are not like a normal cleaner on a major byway where people can pass through, so even back then we started picking up and delivering," said Stu Crane, one of three family members who is an owner. Crane owns the business with John Garman and Mike Garman, who are all third-generation owners.

A Glyndon Lord Baltimore satellite retail location does exist on Jacksonville's main street where thousands of cars pass each day and people can drive in to drop off or pick up orders. But that location resulted from the acquisition of another dry cleaning business about 12 years ago.

Surprisingly Well

Having a 10,000 square foot main facility and about 40 employees in an historic neighborhood works surprisingly well, said Crane. In fact, one of the owners lives only a few doors away.

"We are very in touch with the neighborhood and its needs," he added. "So we don't have any flamboyant signs out front. We like fitting in with the historic community."

Another service started a long time ago - and still offered - is the storage of clothing. In the spring, some customers will have Glyndon Lord Baltimore clean their winter clothes and put them into storage until the fall. Then in the fall, their summer clothes will be put away until next spring and the winter ones retrieved.

Crane said this service - unusual among the industry - grew out of patronage from the farming families in the valley which did not have a lot of closet space in the old farm houses.

The Latest Trends

Behind the small-town feel and services offered by the company is a modern, state-of-the-art facility looking to expand. Crane said the company wants to grow and will be aggressive in doing so. And they keep up on the latest trends and equipment by being involved with different management cost containment groups across the country.

"We like to think we have one of the more advanced plants," said Crane. "We are continuously going to different classes to learn things that will help us put out a better product and provide better services."

"We like to think we are at a different level than most dry cleaners."

In the middle of a facelift of its Glyndon facility, Crane estimates the company has spent close to $200,000 on new equipment in the last few years.

Today, each piece of laundry that comes into the plant is given a small barcode that tracks when the piece came in, when it was cleaned last, who it belongs to and where it's going. Computerized, automated machines help do much of the work in a shorter turnaround.

There's even an automatic sorter that reads the barcode and knows if the order is complete or not. Once it senses the order is ready, it releases the items into an automatic bagger and then onto the correct route.

Busiest in the Region

Seven trucks service the various routes that run from Baltimore City to the south, stretches west to Columbia and Ellicott City, east to Fallston and north to Maryland Line.

With more than 2,800 customers and processing more than 6,000 shirts and 7,500 pieces of dry cleaning each week, the cleaning company is one of the busiest in the region, said Crane. Their front door pick-up and delivery service requires no minimum and no need to be present at time of pick-up or delivery.

The dedication to customer service has earned them the Best of Baltimore pick for 2004 and 2005 by Baltimore Magazine. In March, they were chosen as the official dry cleaner of the Miss USA Pageant held at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore.

Not the Cheapest

Still, the 80-year-old company can't just rest on its reputation and must deal with the realities of today's market. As a result of the spike in gasoline prices over the past year, routes have been reconfigured and trucks equipped with diesel fuel for better gas mileage which helps keep overhead costs under control.

"We've had to make several changes to still provide free pick-up and delivery, said Crane.

Though Crane admits Glyndon Lord Baltimore is not the region's cheapest dry cleaner, he quickly adds the company is not the most expensive either. A shirt can be done for about two bucks and a suit for $12.

And whether its comment cards, new customer gift baskets or flowers to the moms on their routes for Mother's Day, the owners are always trying to let customers know they are appreciated.

"Customers are hard to get," said Crane. "When you get them, you can't afford to lose them. There's a dry cleaner on every street. So we try to do the extra things to win their service with every pick-up and delivery."

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