35 years clean

One way Kanak Raj, owner of Crown Cleaners on Broadway, can tell he’s been in the business a long time: teenagers who rented their tuxedos for their high school prom are now coming in as adults for formal wear for their children’s weddings.

Raj is celebrating 35 years in business in Sonoma.

His first operation was on the Plaza, where he bought an existing operation in 1977. Raj, who holds master’s degrees in human resources and business administration and had worked in the electronics industry, was planning to flip the business after a few years. But he quickly became immersed in the business, and raising a family.

When the chance came in 1986 to move into larger space on Broadway (owned by one of his customers), Raj made the move.

Crown specializes in dry cleaning fine fabrics including silk, linen, rayon and fine cotton.
It offers personalized shirt laundry service and same-day service for tablecloths, sheets and linens. All services are performed on site.

Other service includes rug cleaning, alternations and tuxedo rentals. Crown is the only store in town to carry its own stock of formalwear on site, Raj said.

Crown Cleaners, at 568 Broadway, is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 996.2626.