Tulsa's Yale Cleaners Celebrates 75 Years In Business

Despite several long-time Tulsa buildings closing in the past six months, one is celebrating 75 years. Yale Cleaners opened their first location at 11th and Yale in 1944.

Now Yale Cleaners has 12 locations, and they are about to break ground on their 13th location in Jenks.

They say their secret to staying open so long is their approach to customer service.

From weddings to job interviews to every day in between, Yale Cleaners is always there for its customers.

"We're really there for the most important days of their life and everyday life," said John Rothrock, President of Yale Cleaners.

Yale Cleaners serves thousands of Tulsans everyday at their 12 different locations.

"It’s an important milestone to celebrate not just for us as a business and our families but our employees and our customers," said Rothrock.

Rothrock says they wanted to do something to commemorate how far they've come, so he asked Tulsa Color Pop Owner, Scott Taylor, to paint a mural showing some of the highlights from their past.

"To be in business for 75 years is a big accomplishment and to grow every year like they have is even more difficult," said Color Pop Owner, Scott Taylor.

The mural shows everything from different logos, to different landmarks like the Tulsa Driller, and even a tiger.

To see what each picture on the mural means: https://yalecleaners.com/component/yaleblog/?view=blog&id=63

Rothrock says the tiger represents the time his grandfather lobbied the legislature to do away with the Oklahoma Dry Cleaning Act of 1945.

The Act created a board which had the power to set prices that dry cleaners could charge. The board also prohibited advertising prices on dry cleaning and offering coupons or discounts.

"Going and getting the ability to control our own prices and offer a coupon to a customer and give them a different value for their dollar," said Rothrock.

The mural also features the initials, JEY, which stand for Joan Elaine Yates.

Yates is a 20-year employee at their Brookside Location.

"They care about their employees, they care about their managers, they are good people to work for," said Joan Yates.

Showcasing their rich history, and giving other Tulsa business owners, like Taylor, something to strive for.

"For me, I just think customer service above all, putting the client first and how that really comes through in the end to push you and help you stick around," said Taylor.

Right now, they have a social media challenge going, so if you take a selfie with the mural and tag Color Pop and Yale cleaners, the first 75 people will be getting a $75 Yale cleaners gift card.