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We were saddened to hear last week that SOS Cleaners was going out of business after more than six decades serving LaGrange and Troup County.

This pandemic has hurt so many businesses, and unfortunately, the longtime dry cleaning service felt the effects. The closure isn’t only due to the pandemic — owner Mark Hinson said he also wanted to retire. Plus, people aren’t required to dress up like they used to.

“People don’t get dressed up to go to work, funerals or churches anymore,” Hinson said. “Everything is casual these days.”

The business opened Aug. 15, 1960, with Hinson’s father and uncle, plus a few others. It moved to its current location in 1987.

The 90s were the heyday for the business, but things have changed over the last 20 years.

Longtime customers are going to miss SOS Cleaners, and we know the business has many of them.

At the same time, we’re sure those same customers are happy for Hinson, who can go enjoy his retirement.

We hate to see the business close, but we wish Hinson and his family well going forward as he moves into the next stage of his life.