I look around, taking in all the dining tables, and the only thing I can mutter is, “really?”

Before Demetrio’s, the restaurant was called the Camargo Inn; and it was in the back room of that establishment (the present front left corner of the restaurant) that Eastern Hill Dry Cleaners opened for business in 1950.

Witschger, the owner of Eastern Hills Dry Cleaners, nods his head affirmatively.

“Yep, we are seated in the exact spot where my business started,” he said.

Due to the success of the dry cleaning business, operations moved to the vacant building next to the restaurant, at 4020 Plainville Road.

Witschger’s philosophy is simple but aptly applied: “We are dealing with people and families and we clean their clothes. So, I am responsible for making them look good.”

There is a drop off and pick up spot located in the Strand on Wooster Pike, next to the Dilly Deli and Sara Benjamin’s. If a customer brings in an article of clothing at 9 a.m. they can expect to have it cleaned and ready for pick-up by 5 p.m.

The dry cleaning business is no different than any other well-run business - the objective is quality and great customer service.

And many of his customers he has seen since they were children.

“I came here to work for my dad for my high school co-op job. I ended up staying at my co-op job and ultimately buying the business from my dad,” Witschger said..

“And I know a lot of people by their faces and first names. I have seen people grow up, get married, and then bring their kids in,” he said.

Albert Witschger, Joe’s grandfather who helped open the business, had a motto that said: “If we please you, tell others; if not, tell us.”

And it is pleasing his customers in which Joe takes the most pride.

“I really like taking the time ensuring a woman’s wedding dress is clean for her wedding or doing whatever necessary that will make that important time in her life less stressful,” Witschger said. “If that means taking the dress to the church and dropping it off for her, just so that things run more smooth, then that is what I will do.

“I want to make that particular day in a woman’s life as enjoyable as it should be.”

Eastern Hills Dry Cleaners also accepts the Kroger Plus Card, which allows 10 percent off regular priced dry cleaned items.

During the course of the year, Witschger will off all sorts of specials on sweaters, coats, wedding dresses, and a slew of other articles of clothing.

Presently, a customer can have six shirts laundered for $10.99 and plain sweaters for $2.50 each with the Kroger Card.

The hours of operation for the main store are 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday. Hours of operation at the Mariemont store are 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

For more information, call 271-6488 (main store) or 272-6488 (Mariemont store), and people may e-mail comments to Witschger at EHCleaners@fuse.net