An intriguing decision by a non-Jewish business owner has become the talk of the town among thousands of residents in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, as well as the tens of thousands of Chassidim and visitors who frequent the world center of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. "Happy Dry Cleaners," a long-standing institution familiar to every local resident and situated in the heart of the central thoroughfare on Kingston Avenue, will completely cease operations on the holy Shabbat.
Over the years, the veteran laundromat earned the sarcastic nickname "Erev Shabbat Laundromat" due to the intense pressure and rush of customers on Fridays until the very last minute. Concurrently, it held a dubious distinction that bothered many: it was the sole business remaining open on Shabbat on the entire bustling shopping corridor of the Chassidic neighborhood.
Now, according to a report on the COLive website, following a change in ownership at the establishment, the new management announced the bold and unusual decision to lock the gates on the Jewish day of rest. This move renders the entire street fully Sabbath-observant, with all businesses on both sides of the road tightly closed on Saturdays.
This historic and symbolic transformation, which alters the face of the vibrant Brooklyn street, took place after the well-known business, located at 316 Kingston Avenue, officially changed hands. The original owner of the laundromat, an elderly man named Yun Bo Chun, recently decided to retire at the advanced age of 81. After decades of standing behind the counter and watching the neighborhood change before his eyes, he sold the property.
Queens Departure Welcomes a Crown Heights Arrival
The business was purchased about a month ago by his niece, Lee Yang Kim, who now leads the establishment alongside her husband, Sam. The couple previously managed another laundromat in the neighboring borough of Queens. However, that location closed recently, a step that allowed them to shift the center of gravity of their business operations, relocate to Crown Heights, and concentrate all their commercial efforts exclusively on this long-standing local branch.
Upon officially taking over management, and out of a desire to build a warm relationship with the surrounding local community, the Kim couple decided to introduce a series of structural changes to the business. The most prominent and significant of these changes is the total cessation of operations on Shabbat.
Mrs. Kim explained the motive behind the decision, which surprised many, noting that they wish to demonstrate a deep and uncompromising respect toward the local Jewish community surrounding them and to honor the day of rest that is holy to their Chassidic neighbors. According to her, they understood the high sensitivity of operating a store on the Sabbath in the heart of an Orthodox neighborhood, and they decided that starting this week, the business will be entirely closed every Saturday.
The new operating hours will be optimally adjusted to the needs of the residents. On Fridays, the business will close at 18:00 in the evening, ahead of the onset of the Sabbath, and it will reopen only on Sunday afternoon.
Community Celebrates a Historic Milestone
The dramatic news was received with feelings of joy, relief, and immense excitement among residents. For generations, locals were forced to witness the non-Jewish store operating on Shabbat, just steps away from the central synagogue and headquarters of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Numerous local shoppers visiting the store in recent days sought to express their immense gratitude to the couple for their extraordinary sensitivity, humanity, and the respect they show toward the Jewish way of life, wishing them success and prosperity in their business.
The new owners, for their part, noted that they are very excited to begin this significant new chapter in their professional lives specifically in this area. They look forward to continuing to provide loyal and courteous service to the residents of Crown Heights for many years to come, while fully preserving the unique character of the neighborhood.
