LAKE GASTON — Despite the pundits, not all is doom and gloom in the economy. There is hope, vision and more. Excitement is the best description for the atmosphere as Town and Country Cleaners Lakeside opened its doors at 1593 N.C. Highway 903 this week. That’s next to Waterfront Properties at Eaton’s Ferry Road.

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It’s been several years since Littleton and Lake Gaston have had a convenient place to get their dry cleaning done. Driving to one of the larger cities has been the only way to get shirts pressed or cleaning services.

Seeing the opportunity Dwayne and Lisa Gwaltney, owners of Town and Country Cleaners in South Hill, Va., decided it was time to expand the business to include the lake.

Dwayne has been in the dry cleaning business for more than 30 years and is a graduate of the International Fabric Care Institute. He has been in South Hill for five years, and also owns the South Hill Paint Store. Lisa runs that store with him.

Keeping it all in the family, son Daniel and daughter Kristen work with their parents and will be handling the services at Lake Gaston, with Kristen managing the store.

When asked why Town and Country decided to expand their business in the down economy, Dwayne responded, “Sometimes when things are tight, people tend to stop advertising and getting their face out there when that’s what they really need to be doing. We saw the need at lake.

“There’s not another place within 45 minutes to get your clothes cleaned or to get your shirts pressed, and I realize that the lake has its ups and downs as far as demographics. You’ve got people coming in in April and leaving in August, but that particular location is great.”

Dwayne also said that generally the dry cleaning business doesn’t suffer as much in tough economic times as a lot of other businesses.

“People are close to the house they live in, the car they drive and the clothes they wear. That’s what shows their personality. When times are tough, people want a new look to their clothes instead of going out and buying new,” he said.

Kristen says Town and Country Lakeside will provide regular drycleaning services along with alterations, leather and suede, rug cleaning, shirt laundry, comforter and window treatment cleaning, wedding gown preservation and tuxedo rentals.

Town and Country is open during regular business hours Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.