Our Voice: Mercury Cleaners was a downtown fixture for 50 years

While not everyone needs to have pants pressed, most everyone in this city knows Mercury Cleaners.

The sign on the building’s northwest corner, once modern, is now retro and nearly iconic at the entryway to downtown on Main Street.

Standing in the same spot for 50 years will do that for a business. Whether folks stop there or not, they know where you are and what you do.

It’s easy to take a longtime shop like that for granted. We were sad to hear Mercury Cleaners announce its closing, with its last day Saturday. Allan Ochsner, who owns the business with his wife, Shelley, said he will be retiring.

Building owner Mike Salem plans to demolish those corner structures, but he doesn’t know yet what will be in that spot.

Maybe the new tenants will find themselves a downtown icon 50 years from now, too.

— American News editorial board