CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A longtime Chattanooga family business has shut its doors for the final time.
Gordon’s Cleaners, which began as a small launderette on Frazier Avenue in 1947, closed its McCallie Avenue location today, marking the end of an era for one of the city’s most enduring businesses.
Founder Gordon Ledbetter launched the original laundry business shortly after World War II.
In 1952, he purchased Howard’s Cleaners on McCallie Avenue and transformed it into the flagship location of what would become a trusted name in fabric care across generations.
Over the decades, the company expanded to include multiple pickup and drop-off points, and at one time employed more than a dozen workers.
The business thrived for years but began facing new challenges, including a shift in clothing trends, growing environmental regulations, and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of dry cleaning businesses has significantly declined both locally and nationwide in recent years.
Gordon’s Cleaners held on through it all, but today, after nearly three-quarters of a century in service, it closed for good.
The building’s future remains undecided, but the Ledbetter family says the business’s legacy will live on in the memories of loyal customers, longtime employees, and the generations it served.
