Thanks again for your expertise. The jacket you colored in looked great! As always, thank you for your friendship and your kindness.
-J
Middletown, NY
April 2008

About our new eblasts:
Very cool! Great publicity for you guys.
-CSG
Fair Lawn, NJ
April 2008

I am writing to thank you for saving my brown shearling coat. I was indeed panic stricken when I called Searle to seek advice about a fresh oil stain. How fortunate that the store referred me to you and that you were still on premises to work on the coat. Of course I called the Searle store manager back to tell him of the wonderful service I received from you - gratis, no less. Many thanks, again, for your kindness and excellent work.
-B.Z.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
March 2008

Dear Hallak Cleaners,
I'm writing to express my appreciation for my recent experience in deal with your company. I found your company through the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists (who I have dealt with before) when I was looking for a dry cleaner to clean the dress I wore as Mother of the Groom. The dress was heavily beaded and my local dry cleaner said they did not have the experience to clean the dress. Initially I contacted another wedding gown restoration company listed on the label of my dress and was very put off by them. They were arrogant and not helpful at all. From the very beginning when I contacted your company I found everyone I talked to over several conversations to be very courteous and helpful. I used you courier service and the dress was shipped back in a special hanging box. The dress has been restored to a beautiful condition by your company. I am very pleased by your professional services, your attention to detail and the quality of your work. I will not hesitate to use your company again for specialty dry cleaning. And I will certainly recommend you to anyone in need of such a service. Thanks again for a job well done.
-R.G.
Moorestown, NJ
February 2008

Thanks again for superb job (uphosltery and carpets) and thanks for being so quick and prompt.
- B.W. 
Far Hills, NJ
February 2008

 I received my shirts and as expected they are perfect, just the way I like them. I will surely be sending you more.
- L.H. - Merrill Lynch
Red Bank, NJ
January 2008

We are grateful to have found you and received such excellent service, from our first call, the offer of returning if the cleaning did not look like it would work, you excellent care of the dress (which I LOVE) and the beautiful hanging box in which is was returned, crisp white, unwrinkled, and ready to go out! All I need now is warm weather, so I can wear it to something special. Many thanks ...
Sandra Kulli
Kulli Marketing
Malibu,  California
January 2008
 
Thank you for always doing such a first class job.
- M.K.
NYC
December 2007

I just came across a letter you sent me inquiring how the hand cleaning of my drapery tiebacks came out...The tiebacks came out beautifully. I was so pleased that they could be cleaned and did not need to be replaced...I only wish I had contacted you sooner so that your firm could have handled all the drapery cleaning. Unfortunately, the cleaner my insurance company used, althought supposed "experts," did not do such fine work, and some of the draperies were ruined and some shrunk excessively. Now I know who to call when I want draperies cleaned. Thank you again for your personal attention to this matter. You were very kind to help me out and I would highly recommend you company's service for any high-end cleaning needs.
- E.C.
Redding, CT
September 2007

Dear Hallak Cleaners,
I have never written a letter to compliment service I have received, but I was so impressed this past Saturday by how I was treated in your 65th Street location, that I had to take the time to let you know that you are doing an amazing job.I brought in a dinner jacket that neded a simple spot cleaning. My local dry cleaners said they could not do it, but I figured I would try your store since you are the best. The lovely lady at the counter (unfortunately, I did not get her name) said she would try, but if it left a ring she would have to dry clean it. I expressed my concern bucause they buttons were velvet and the jacket was brocade with velvet cuffs. She explained that was no problem, she could remove the buttons etc. if it had to be cleaned. Meanwhile, again, my local cleaners said they could not do that. After a few minutes in the back to spot clean the jackets, she came back to the counter to show it to me and it looked perfect. But she didn't stop there. I expected some kind of charge, maybe five or ten dollars. She just folded the jacket up and thanked me. I asked, "There is no charge?" and she graciously said, "No, but thank you." I was utterly shocked. Never, in all of my ten years living in NYC have I ever been treated so well - which is sad, because service like this should be the norm. She had not even asked me my name to check the computer and see if I was a regular customer (which I expected her to). Even my husband, who was with me and is the most jaded New Yorker of them all, was impressed. With customer service almost dead, especially in a city like this, I thought it was important to let you know that you have won me over. I will be your customer for forever and will recommend you to all of my friends from now on. Thank you for treating people as they should be treated and for realizing, that there are things you can do above and beyond just getting the job done, that will win customers over for the long term.
Regards
- JS
Manhattan
June 2007

I am pleased to inform you that my wife has received the Burberry raincoat and it is now in perfect condition. This only confirms the high quality of the service we have always received from your company. Thanking you for the attention given to the matter.
- Paulo 
Canada

Thank you for a marvelous job and for saving my “best” dress!
- JKR
Manhattan

Thank you for coming through for me last weekend. I’m sorry I was obliged to trouble you at home, but I’m very pleased you were able to get my clothes to me before my departure. As you know, I’m a regular customer and I rely on you fore excellent cleaning – and excellent service.  I appreciate your commitment to both principles.
- JLW
Manhattan

Thank you so much for your interest and help in restoring my red and white sweater. Because this sweater was one of my most favorite garments, I was really upset when it seemed ruined.  I was so glad to find a cleaner who would do more than take one look, and give up! You do deserve your fine reputation. Thank you again for your assistance, especially as the distance made this somewhat more involved than your usual work. I appreciate your help.
- MW
Manhattan

After so many years in NY, I am moving to Philadelphia. So I won’t be bringing my cleaning to you any more. I’d like to say thank you for all of the good service Hallak Cleaners has provided me over the last 10 years. In particular, I’d like to thank Juan, who has always been extremely cooperative and on many occasions has gone out of his way to be helpful. I only hope I can find a dry cleaner in Philadelphia who is half as good as Hallak Cleaners! Thank you again.
- MJA 
Philadelphia, PA

Thank you so much for your work on our wedding gown. The stain is vastly better and the dressmaker thinks she can hide what little is left in a fold.  We are most grateful for your service.
-NBM
Manhattan

I put on one of my summer suits for the first time this year, reached into the jacket pocket and found an envelope, apparently left from last fall’s cleaning, containing $4 and a note “L—found in pocket”. I cannot tell you how utterly astounded and delighted I was since I know no other cleaner where this would happen.  Not only are you about the best cleaner we know of in New York, but your honesty and integrity once again has asserted itself as it has on those few occasions when a garment has been lost or damaged.  The $4, of course, means very little; but your action, and that of your employees in returning it to me, is both extraordinary and extraordinarily appreciated. 
- NJL
Manhattan

…I now have found a terrific place in New York to have clothes cleaned. John Claude Hallak is now my personal cleaner.
- PC
Manhattan

If everyone in NY had your integrity what a great city it would be.
- RDB
Manhattan

Some months ago a friend recommended your establishment, calling it the best dry cleaner in New York City.  I have found that my friend was correct. The quality of your work is impeccable and your staff is always courteous and pleasant. One of your employees, (LF), deserves a special mention.  When I spoke with her briefly by phone this afternoon she not only displayed the courtesy that is characteristic of all your employees, but went out of her way to answer a variety of questions I posed to her regarding the cost of cleaning certain materials and the suitability of various fabric to wear in the heat and humidity that summer brings to New York. Simply being pleasant is often ground for high praise nowadays.  But (LF's) cheerfulness and willingness to offer assistance and advice relects a commitment to her job and her employer that is indeed exceptional.  That your standards are high is evident not only in the excellence of your work, but in the quality of your employees, such as (LF), who do that work.
- RMH
Manhattan

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your taking the time to open your plant for me last Saturday.  It was truly service “above and beyond the call”. Your extra efforts resolved what could have been a very difficult situation, with not only superb service, but excellent workmanship, as well. Thank you, again, for all your help, and you certainly have found a “new and satisfied customer”.
- IMT
Manhattan

The Only Dry Cleaner I Trust (from editor of SHOP Etc., found on their website)

Finally, my faith in dry-cleaners has been restored! Some of you may remember in a summer edition of SHOP Etc., I described my search for the perfect white pants after a dry cleaner destroyed the only pair I had ever loved.  I have never worn white pants since, not only because all those I tried on were too grey, too yellow, too thin, too thick, too baggy or too tight, but mainly because I didn’t dare relinquish future loves into the bowels of another dastardly dry cleaner.

Then I was introduced to Hallak Cleaners (Hallak & Sons Inc., 1232 2nd Ave [bet 64th and 65th], 212-832-0750). In fact, John Claude Hallak wrote to me here at SHOP Etc. after reading my column and challenged to the give him my most precious items with the guarantee they’d be returned not just cleaner, but even better than they looked before.

I was cynical, but I adore a challenge so I retrieved a Jil Sander cream coat from the back of my closet, where it had been languishing. I had reluctantly taken it to a number of dry cleaners, but probably sensing my anxiety, not one of them would take it on.  Now it was in such a sorry state (coffee spray on the front, make-up and hair gel on the collar, city grime around the cuffs and a gooey black oil stain that mysteriously appeared from nowhere), I was never going to wear it again anyway.  

With a “put that in your pipe and smoke it” smirk, I handed the coat over to Hallak and returned a week later ready for the excuses.  In fact, as I scrutinized my coat through the plastic, I hardly recognized it.  But this time, it was for all the right reasons.  Every mark had been carefully cleaned away, the big gold buttons had been removed and replaced just so, and no trace of the icky hair products and make-up on the collar…I swear I had witnessed a miracle!

Since then, I’ve taken all sorts of dry cleaning challenges to Hallak-my white crocheted top, my silk and chiffon camisole that got covered in grease splotches during a frenzied BBQ, a crisp white jacket from Miu Miu that cost me far too much money. In truth, Hallak isn’t cheap, either.  You’ll pay double what you’d pay at your corner cleaner.  But to prevent future heartbreak, it’s worth every penny.