10 of the Smallest Things in NYC, from the New Book TINY New York
7. Smallest Dry Cleaner: First Professional Dry Cleaners
Photograph Courtesy of Suzi Siegel
At 230 square feet, Carlos Vasquez’s First Professional Cleaners in the Upper East Side earns the title of New York City’s smallest dry cleaners. Vasquez, who grew up in Alphabet City, has been in the business since he graduated high school. For Vasquez, it’s quality over quantity, or size. Rather than opening more stores or a bigger location, he focuses on working with his family to provide the best service to the community with the space they have. In 2001 after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Vasquez offered free dry cleaning for work interview outfits, and has kept the policy ever since.
