Comet Cleaners

Comet Cleaners is a family-owned dry-cleaning and laundry brand whose roots, according to its official history, extend back to the 1920s. Founder R.L. “Jack” Godfrey opened his first dry-cleaning store in 1924, after beginning work in a tailor shop as a child. The company says it was officially incorporated in 1957; its homepage also describes its services as having been offered since 1957. The brand has remained in the Godfrey family, with Jack Godfrey, Jr. identified as the third generation to own and operate the franchise. The company presents itself as a professional cleaning service focused on quality, convenience, and customer service. Its offerings include dry cleaning, wash-and-fold laundry, alterations at select locations, same-day service, express bag service, drive-up options, and 24-hour drop-off. Its website also describes cleaning for items such as leather goods, linens, draperies, bedspreads, tablecloths, and wedding gowns. Some offerings and conveniences may vary by location. Comet Cleaners says it has stores across the United States and Mexico and invites prospective franchisees to join the brand. Its official history describes a long-standing interest in industry improvements, including its role in testing, marketing, and implementing Exxon DF 2000, an environmentally safer dry-cleaning solvent, in 1995. The available official information does not identify a headquarters address or provide a current store count. The brand remains active and continues to promote its cleaning services and franchise opportunity.

Comet Cleaners traces its origins to the early career of R.L. “Jack” Godfrey. The company’s official history says that Godfrey left home at age 12 in 1920 to work in a tailor shop and opened his first dry-cleaning store in 1924. It also notes that Jack Godfrey & Sons opened what it describes as the first one-hour dry cleaner in 1945. The site distinguishes these early roots from the company’s formal incorporation: Comet Cleaners was officially incorporated in 1957, the year the homepage uses when describing how long the brand has offered its services. The official history presents the business as a family venture that remained with the Godfrey family over subsequent generations. Jack Godfrey, Jr. is described as the third generation to own and operate the franchise. The site also describes changes in the business over time: in the 1970s, Comet Cleaners became a specialist in the clothing retail business, and in the 1980s its franchising operation opened an average of 20 stores per year. These are historical claims made by the company; the supplied material does not give a present-day store count. A milestone the company highlights in its history is its involvement in 1995 in testing, marketing, and implementing Exxon DF 2000, which the site describes as an environmentally safe dry-cleaning solvent that later became commonplace in the industry. Comet Cleaners characterizes its continuing work as focused on adopting advances in cleaning techniques and technology while maintaining service standards. Today, the brand describes itself as operating stores in the United States and Mexico. Its customer-facing services include dry cleaning, wash-and-fold laundry, alterations at select locations, same-day service, drive-up options, express bag service, and 24-hour drop-off. The official site also lists care for specialty garments and household items, including wedding gowns, draperies, bedspreads, and tablecloths. Comet Cleaners promotes franchise opportunities, while describing its locations as independently owned. The available sources do not specify a headquarters address, current leadership roster, or current number of locations.

• 1995

  Work on Exxon DF 2000

• 1980

  Franchising expands

• 1970

  Expansion into clothing retail specialization

• 1957

  Comet Cleaners is incorporated

• 1945

  Jack Godfrey & Sons opens a one-hour dry cleaner

• 1924

  First dry-cleaning store opens

• 1920

  Jack Godfrey begins work in a tailor shop

Professional garment and laundry care positioned around quality, convenience, affordability, and customer service, with independently owned locations and a franchise opportunity.

• Dry cleaning

  Professional cleaning and pressing for garments, with the website also describing care for specialty and household items.

• Wash and fold

  Laundry service presented as a convenient alternative for customers.

• Alterations

  Available at select locations.

• Specialty and household-item cleaning

  The website mentions wedding gowns, leather, linens, draperies, bedspreads, and tablecloths.

• 1995

  Testing and implementation of Exxon DF 2000Other

1. 1Comet Dry Cleaners and Laundrycometcleaners.com
2. 2Our History | Comet Cleaners Dry Clean & Laundrycometcleaners.com
3. 3SERVICES | Comet Cleanerscometcleaners.com