North End Dry Cleaner Loves The Neighborhood

One never knows the interesting interiors of North End businesses until walking through the door.

Hanover Dry Cleaners, located at 306 Hanover Street, is in the heart of an Italian block that includes Caffe Dello Sport and various restaurants with the heritage of Italy.

Michelle Nguyen, owner of Hanover Street Cleaners, is from Vietnam.

She came to the United States in 1992 with her parents. Michelle's sister arrived in the 1980s.

"I've owned this shop for a year and-a-half," Michelle said this week. "And I run the business by myself."

During an interview with North End Patch, Michelle easily handled multiple tasks including serving customers, marking the seam line for a man's pants she is sewing and answering questions.

"I picked the North End to establish my business because there are a lot of young people here and most are extremely friendly," Michelle said. 

She loves the neighborhood.

The love of clothing and how to fix it runs in Michelle's family.

"My older sister has run a dry cleaning shop in Beacon Hill for 20 years," she said.

Michelle has a prosperous business as well.

"I do a lot of alterations for men and women," she said.

In fact, Michelle does alterations for Rag & Bone's Newbury Street shop.

She's extremely satisfied with working in the North End.

"There are no changes necessary," Michelle said when asked if she could think of any that might help small businesses such as her own.