Paris Cleaners Website

“You can go to the bank and borrow money,
but you can’t go and borrow some good reputation.”

Frank Franke, Co-Founder,
Paris Dry Cleaning Co. 1909

100 years and 4 generations later, Paris has come full circle.

“From the dream of an immigrant tailor in 1909, the Paris business has been built on innovation, hands-on attention to detail, personal service and sound environmental practices. Our grandfathers and father dedicated their lives to building Paris City Cleaners. So do we dedicate our lives to continuing their tradition of service to the Springfield community. In this way we pay tribute to them, their dreams and the business they built.”

Shep and David Franke, 2008

Paris City Dry Cleaning Co. was founded in 1909 by Frank Franke, an immigrant tailor, and his eldest son Carl D. Franke, Sr. The name was taken from Paris, France, where dry cleaning began. In 1913, the operation moved to the Coats Watch Factory on Yale Boulevard and Ash. Their dream was to have the largest cleaning plant in Springfield, IL. Advertising slogans included "Everything back ‘cept the dirt" and "Capital 13: unlucky for spots", which used the then-new Paris phone number.

In 1943, Paris joined America in the war effort. Paris, then, as now, used a petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent. This commodity was in high demand, as were brave young men. Paris ceased production to aid in fuel rationing, but maintained the storage and fur departments and a business office. Carl D. Franke, Jr. joined the war as a Navy Air Corps pilot, with the promise to resume the dry cleaning operation at wars end.

Carl D. Franke, Jr. resumed production at the company, with the new name, Paris Cleaners & Furriers, at its present location at 1013 East Ash. The new plant was designed specifically for dry cleaning and included a certified below-freezing fur vault and 2 garment storage vaults. A shirt laundry was added in the early 1960s and branch locations were built throughout the community.

Carl’s wife, Bette H. Franke became President in 1981 of the newly-named Paris Fabricare Specialists, Inc. Paris expanded into wedding gown and period gown restoration and preservation.

Paris is now managed by the fourth generation, Carl and Bette’s children. Their eldest daughter, Glenda McNichols, who became President in 1985, left the business in 2005 to pursue other interests with her husband, Tom. The company is now managed by brothers and Co-Presidents C. David Franke III and F. Shep Franke, who continue with the Paris tradition.

View a photo album of our dry-cleaning plant...

Paris painting by Joan Beeman

Paris hangers
Everything back 'cept the dirt!
Capitol 13 - unlucky for spots.