LYNN—Toomey Dry Cleaners and Robert’s Dry Cleaners have been a staple in Lynn for nearly 80 years.
Sam Kaminski and his son, Robert Kaminski Sr., laid the groundwork for a multigenerational family business when they opened Robert’s Cleaners in 1947.
Operating first out of 624 Summer St. and later expanding to 43 Boston St., the Kaminskis built a reputation for dependable service, quality workmanship, and deep community involvement — values that continue to define the company today.
In 1969, Robert’s Cleaners expanded its footprint by purchasing Toomey’s Cleaners on Boston Street, strengthening its presence in Lynn and solidifying both names as fixtures in the community.
When Kaminski Sr. retired, he passed the business to his sons, Robert Kaminski Jr. and Paul Kaminski, ushering in a new era of expansion.
Under their leadership, the company opened additional locations throughout the North Shore, including Lynn, Peabody, and Middleton.
Their goal was not only growth but also convenience — offering expanded services for longtime customers while welcoming new ones. Over the years, the business has handled everything from designer garments to Santa costumes.
Today, the next generation helps guide the company forward. Kaminski Jr.’s children, Robert Kaminski III and Ellen Burke, are actively involved, continuing the family tradition. “I think that’s what makes us last so long,” Burke said. “We just have a good repertoire, and we can get mad at each other and not stay mad at each other.”
Their contributions include expanding home delivery services, which now serve numerous customers across the region.
The company operates three drivers who make pickups and drop-offs twice a week — a service that proved especially valuable during the pandemic. “No one wanted to leave their house,” Burke said.
Across its six locations, the business processes roughly 1,000 to 1,500 garments a day, down from about 2,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic. That workload is shared not only by the Kaminskis but by six additional family units among the employees.
Their dedication and work ethic have been central to the company’s success, reinforcing a workplace culture that feels more like an extended family.
Nelsy Hoyos, who moved to Lynn five years ago and has managed the Boston Street location for the past three years, noticed the difference immediately. “These are hands-on owners,” she said. “And I love it here.”
While the family aspect makes Robert’s and Toomey’s relatable, it’s the company’s reputation for efficiency and customer care that keeps customers coming back. “We cross-train people because it’s just more efficient that way,” Kaminski III explained.
That efficiency is matched by a personal touch. “I think we give good quality, but it’s really our customer service,” Burke said. “Nine times out of ten, a customer walks in, and you know their name.”
Burke and Kaminski III grew up alongside the customers they now serve, forming relationships that span decades.
Burke recalls one moment that captures that bond: a longtime customer came in early one morning to place an order and, before anything else, told her his wife had passed away. She was the first person he chose to tell.
Serving the community goes beyond the counter. “People know us, we’ve been here a long time. There’s a lot of community things—churches, the high schools—cleaning their clothes, trying to help them out with fundraisers and sponsorships,” Kaminski III said. Supporting local organizations has become a natural extension of the business.
For the Kaminski family, the story is not about obligation, but passion — about honoring what previous generations built while continuing to serve the North Shore.
“We grew up here; I couldn’t see over the counter,” Burke said, nodding toward her brother. “And now he has two sons who come down and work when they’re on school break.”
Nearly eight decades later, that sense of continuity remains at the heart of Robert’s and Toomey’s Cleaners, where family, employees, and community together keep the tradition alive.
