By COLlive reporter

Happy Dry Cleaners on Kingston Avenue has long been nicknamed “the Erev Shabbos cleaners” by many Crown Heights residents and visitors to the neighborhood.

Now, for the first time, it will no longer be open on Shabbos.

The longtime business at 316 Kingston Avenue, recently changed hands after its previous owner, Youn Bo Chon, retired at the age of 81. The store was purchased about a month ago by his niece, Lee Young Kim, who now owns and manages the business together with her husband, Sam.

The family also previously operated a second dry cleaning location in Queens, which has since closed, allowing them to focus entirely on the Crown Heights store.

One of the first changes under the new ownership will be closing the store on Shabbos, Mrs. Kim told COLlive.com.

“We want to respect the Jewish community and honor the Jewish day of rest,” she said. “From now on, the store will be closed on Saturdays.”

Happy Dry Cleaners had been the only business open on Shabbos along Kingston Avenue’s main shopping stretch. With the change, every store on both sides of that section of Kingston Avenue will now be closed on Shabbos.

The store’s new weekly schedule will be Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM, and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

“We really appreciate it,” another local shopper said. “It shows respect for the community. Wishing the new owners lots of success.”

Kim said she and her husband are excited to begin this new chapter at Happy Dry Cleaners and look forward to serving the Crown Heights community for years to come.