Throwback Thursday: Raiders Cleaners

Thu, Dec 31st, 2015

Image Credit: Patrick Cullinan.

Image Credit: Patrick Cullinan.

Taken from the Myrtle Avenue Elevated train, this photo captures a slice of Clinton Hill along Myrtle Avenue, between Clinton and Vanderbilt Avenues.  Signage for Raiders Cleaners is seen the façade of 414 Myrtle Avenue, where Mr. Coco operates today.

A laundry cleaning and dying business operated at this location for more than 60 years, beginning with Raiders Cleaners first opening in the 1940s.  The original business was then sold in the late 1950s (when “New” was added to the name), and was run by a local Fort Greene family for about 50 years.  New Raiders Cleaners closed in 2008.

This photo, which dates to 1969, was taken by Patrick Cullinan shortly before the Myrtle Avenue El came down.

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