Posted on April 21, 2020
By Caitlan Butler
Staff Writer
Hollywood Cleaners is offering free dry cleaning and laundry service for first responders at each of their seven locations, which includes two in El Dorado. One store is located at 304 N. West Ave. and the other at 1221 N. Hillsboro St.
“Because of this COVID-19, they have not been getting the chance to do their laundry or dry cleaning, so we just want to thank them for providing this service to our community,” Jay Desai, Hollywood Cleaners manager, said. “They have been working so hard.”
Like other small businesses, Hollywood Cleaners was initially hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The stores were forced to roll back their hours significantly and keep their doors closed on some days that had previously been work days.
However, the business was approved for paycheck protection program (PPP) loans provided for in the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act before the money for small businesses ran out last Thursday after less than two weeks of availability. Desai said the business also received a bridge loan from the state of Arkansas, which has allowed the business to stay fully-staffed despite other cuts to expenses.
“We are a local business and we are just wanting to keep our employees and everyone intact even though we are not able to make anything (in profit),” Desai said. “We want to make sure they’re still able to pay their bills, their utilities.”
With the small business loans, Hollywood Cleaners will be able to resume full time service at the start of next week, Desai said. To give back to the community, they will offer free laundry and dry cleaning services to first responders, as well as free contactless pick-up and delivery services and folding services.
“That will really help us to stay open from next week with our normal hours,” Desai said of the loans.
Hollywood Cleaners operates dry cleaning and laundry stores at seven locations, at all of which they are offering this special service through May 1. Desai said the special services may be extended for another month once May starts.
Hollywood Cleaners are located at:1304 N. West Ave. in El Dorado (drive-through), open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
1221 W. Hillsboro St. in El Dorado, open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
1108 N. Jackson St. in Magnolia (drive-through), open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays
507 E. 1st Ave. in Crossett (drivethrough), open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
4075 Sterlington Rd. #8 in Monroe, Louisiana (drive-through), open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
25 Reynolds St. in Springhill, Louisiana (drive-through), open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Desai said the employees at Hollywood Cleaners hope to give back to the community through these special services. He also offered a message of hope for others that are facing hardship during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.
“This is just for the time being,” Desai said. “Everybody will come out of it; we just need to give some time to it.”
For more information about Hollywood Cleaners, visit their Facebook page or call one of the local stores at 870-862-1936 (N. West Ave. location) or 870-862-5326 (Hillsboro St. location).