A longstanding fixture on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights will no longer operate on Shabbos, marking the first time in years that every business along the neighborhood’s main commercial strip will be closed in honor of the day.

According to a report by COLlive, Happy Dry Cleaners, located at 316 Kingston Avenue, has announced that it will no longer open on Shabbos. For many years, the dry cleaner had been the only business remaining open on the neighborhood’s central shopping corridor during the Jewish day of rest, earning it the local nickname “the Erev Shabbos dry cleaner.”

The change follows a recent transfer of ownership. The store’s longtime owner, Yoon Bo Choon, retired at the age of 81 after operating the business for decades. About a month ago, ownership passed to his niece, Lee Young Kim, who now runs the business together with her husband, Sam.

One of the new owners’ first decisions was to revise the store’s operating schedule and discontinue business on Shabbos. Explaining the move, Lee Young Kim said, “We want to respect the Jewish community and honor the Jewish day of rest. From now on the store will be closed on Saturdays.”

The decision carries significance beyond the business itself. With the dry cleaner now closing on Shabbos, every storefront on both sides of Kingston Avenue’s main commercial district will be shuttered throughout the day. Many local residents welcomed the announcement. One regular customer remarked, “We’re very appreciative of this. It shows respect for the community. We wish the new owners much success.”

{Matzav.com}