Behind the darkened doors of WetCleaner on Cook Street in Victoria are racks of suits and dresses, and bundles of bedding.
Mail from the door slot is scattered on the floor and notes have been left on the door. For several weeks on social media, dozens of people have been wondering how they can get their things back.
Malcolm Parslow dropped off a suit at WetCleaner in April about a week before flying to Scotland for a wedding and was assured it would be ready. But it wasn’t and Parslow had to wear his “funeral suit” instead of the cheery light blue one now behind locked doors.
But customers may soon get access to their duds and linens.
WetCleaner owner Summer Heal said a series of “cascading events,” starting with a personal tragedy, led to the temporary closing, including loss of staff and mounting unpaid bills that cut off key point-of-sale and tracking technology and the phone line while she closed the shop to deal with family issues.
But she is starting to rebuild and possibly reopen by the middle of next week after training friends and securing a bridge loan.
She said the crisis of a personal nature “takes time to sort out,” adding that “it’s terribly embarrassing” from a business perspective. Customers’ clothing and bedding are safe and secure, she said.
In the meantime, Heal said she would post her personal phone number on the door to allow people to call her and attempt to find their skirt, suit or quilt.
One person taped a handwritten note to the door of WetCleaner on Wednesday, saying if they didn’t get their navy sweater back they would file an official complaint with Victoria police.
Parslow said he understands that business owners — like everyone — can go through difficult personal situations and that the wedding he and his wife attended in Scotland went very well — even with the dark suit.
Jamie Oosterhuis, who works at Poppet Creative next door to WetCleaner in the Bell Building, said dozens of people have been coming into the studio over the past two weeks asking her about what happened. All were looking to get back their belongings.
“Overall, the tone has been kind, but confused,” she said. “There is a lot of empathy.”
Up until about two weeks ago, Heal’s father had been in WetCleaner giving people back their clothes. But the store has been locked since.
Aldyne Kerrigan, of the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island, said customers who leave their belongings in a business that shutters quickly can be left in a difficult situation with little recourse other than a legal proceeding. But unless the belongings have significant value it’s hardly worth hiring a lawyer, she said.
The proper procedure for a business owner is to post something on the door or website explaining the situation and a method to retrieve property, Kerrigan said.
Peter Quakenbush, who owns One Hour Cleaners in Victoria, said he had to retrieve several items from WetCleaner for the Empress Hotel last month and has noticed an increase in business since the rival cleaner was shuttered.
Sheralyn Grant, of Individual Dry Cleaners on Fort Street, has also noticed more customers.
Grant, who has worked in the family business for 60 years, said she knows Heal well and is there to support her.
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