Widmer’s opened its doors in 1910 at 2016 Madison Road. The company was named after its original owner John Widmer, who offered high quality dry cleaning services to the Greater Cincinnati Area. John Widmer immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1880 when he was 9 years old. He began working as a tailor and then started the dry cleaning business. His son, Wesley, as well as his 9 daughters and his wife, worked in the business. He retired in 1940 and gave the business to Wesley.

In 1950, the company was purchased by a local family. During this period, Widmer’s Cleaners became known for their expertise in the restoration of vintage garments. The company even processed many of the vintage garments on display at the Smithsonian Institute. Some such items include Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Rider Suit and the suit Abraham Lincoln was wearing when he was assassinated.

In the late 1990s, two big changes happened in the company. One being the sale of the company to the biggest dry cleaner on the east coast, the Zoots Corporation located in Boston. The second change was the addition of their carpet cleaning and upholstery division.

In 2006, Widmer’s Cleaners partnered with two well known carpet cleaning companies, Security Amirkhanian and American Carpet Masters (located in Dayton). Both companies shared similar goals and vision to that of Widmer’s Cleaners. Two years later the company was again under local ownership after being purchased by current owners, Steve Carico and Jack Cunningham. Each owner has shown their hard work and dedication to the company by working up through the ranks. Today, Widmer’s Cleaners is a multimillion dollar company.