The former Vick’s Cleaners building was demolished Monday. Despite not being in operation since 2013, the building existed since 1966. Photo by Junious Smith III

It was officially the end of an era Monday for Vick’s Cleaners.

Although the Plaza St. location hadn’t been used since 2013, the building stayed until demolition Monday. Vick’s Cleaners, founded in 1899, serves as the oldest running dry cleaner service in the state.

“When we started, it was on Gordon St.,” former owner Simon Vick said. “The original building burned down in the 1940s and then my father built it (where) the Lenoir Oxygen company is before closing it in 1969. I started running (the Plaza location) in the 1970s and my son’s basically run it for the past five. This is a generational business — I was the third generation, my dad was second, my grandfather started it (120) years ago and my son’s currently the owner.”

Tim Vick, Simon’s son, said the current location on Herritage St. has been a good one, but it hurt a bit to see the former building torn down.

“We’ve been out of it five years and it was a great move, but it’s a little sad to see the building go since we occupied it for so long,” Vick said. “That area was really good to us and the family, but it’s been unoccupied so maybe it’ll do some good for the Plaza.”

There is a plan for renovations to the parking lot according to Perry Management Vice President Gram Spear. 

“We want to improve visibility for other tenants and add 20 to 25 additional parking spaces,” Spear said. “We also want to line up the exits on Boy Scout Blvd. and repave the parking lot. We hope to have everything done in about 30 days.”