Yale Cleaners keeping Tulsa a cleaner place for 50 Years
Yale Cleaners' story began like many others; our founder Jim Hodges believed he could do dry cleaning better. So, in 1944 he opened our first location at 1110 S. Yale, thus the name Yale Cleaners. Mr. Hodges soon established Yale as the quality leader in the Tulsa area. He expanded the company to 4 locations serviced by 1 production facility.
Then, in 1959, two brother-in-laws purchased Yale Cleaners; James Stevenson and Barney Bebout. During the next 20 years, Yale grew to 22 drop stores, sold draperies and started a uniform rental company. However, when Barney retired in 1979, Yale was looking for new ideas and innovations; so Jim's brother Jerry Stevenson and son-in-law Bill Rothrock were invited to join the family business.
This new leadership team combined the best ideas in the dry cleaning industry and with hard work, created a company driven to serve the customer. Yale's corporate goal became to create and develop neighborhood dry cleaning plants to better serve our customers. Soon, Yale began offering same day service, express bags, car-hop service, button insurance and much more. This new strategy paid off and established Yale Cleaners as Tulsa's premier dry cleaner.
However, our story didn't just happen overnight. Below are some of the milestones that changed the course of Yale's history.
The Yale Cleaners Story
Jump to: 2009-2000 | 1999-1990 | 1989-1980 | 1979-1970 | 1969-1960 | 1959-1950 | 1949-1940
2012
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Yale Cleaners Joined the Pink Band wagon. We also introduced mPOS, Paperless Coupons and our very own iPhone app.
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2011
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New Midtown Location 41st and Harvard, New Hanger design, Joined Facebook, and Coats for Kids turned 25.
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2007
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Introduced new Bar-Code computer system. Giles Coats for Kids collected a record setting 21,500 coats for our neighbors in need.
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2005
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New Sign introduced at our new location in Broken Arrow. Began Yale's landscape beautification campaign.
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2003
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Re-engineered all of the production equipment increasing speed and improving quality.
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1996
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Coats for Kids 10 year anniversary 87,300 coats cleaned and donated year to date.
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1993
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Yale Cleaners expanded to Owasso. First coupon with a bar-code.
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1992
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Yale's new building design and look was developed. New locations in South Tulsa and Broken Arrow.
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1988
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All locations produced laundered shirts. Button Insurance was introduced. Giles Coats for Kids collects 7,500 coats.
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1986
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Started Coats for Kids Campaign and partnered with Channel 6 to market the program.
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1985
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Opened first Broken Arrow location and introduced the first Car-Hop.
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1984
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Yale Cleaners introduced Oklahoma's first dry cleaning coupon.
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1980
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Same Day Service offered for the first time. Installed our first neighborhood dry cleaning plant
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1962
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Purchased Endicott Cleaners
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1955
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4 drop stores opened.
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1944
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Yale Cleaners store number 1 opened.
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