Paul Emert, owner of Ideal Cleaners & Laundry, has put his business up for sale.

Ideal Cleaners, at 114 W. Summer St., next to Central Christian Church, was scheduled to close today.

Emert said Tuesday that he was hopeful that new owners would purchase the business and reopen it soon with the same name.

He announced he was closing the business in a "public notice" advertisement first printed in The Greeneville Sun on June 14, and in subsequent advertisements. He has owned Ideal Cleaners for the past 12 years.

In the "public notice" advertisement, signed simply "Paul," he says, "I want to thank each and everyone that has been a friend and a part of the success of Ideal Cleaners. It is with great reluctance I've decided to close, but it is the right decision for myself and my family."

Although Ideal Cleaners won't be accepting any more business, Emert said he will be in the shop until July to assist those seeking to pick up dry-cleaned items.

Ideal Cleaners has been in business under that name at 114 W. Summer St., between Irish and Main streets, since 1971, Emert said.

Bobby Gene Reaves, who owns the building in which Ideal Cleaners is located, said the first floor has always been a dry cleaners since his late grandfather, H.C. Reeves, built it in 1931 for his son, Tom W. Reaves, also now deceased.

Emert said, "This will be my fourth retirement. I'll retire for about two weeks, then find a job working a few hours a day, instead of 15 hours.

"It'll be something simple, like being a greeter at Wal-Mart. I think it's a mistake to quit (working altogether)."

Emert, who will turn 77 years of age on Sept. 1, said he initially plans to spend summers with his son, Paul Emert Jr., in Lancaster, Pa., but not the winters, because, he explained, it is too cold then in Pennsylvania.

Emert Sr. said his customers have until July 15 to pick up their dry-cleaning. He explained that on July 16 at 10 a.m., he will have a public sale of all dry-cleaning items that have not been picked up.