• Originally published July 17, 2008 at 10:27 p.m., updated July 17, 2008 at 10:27 p.m.

After 77 years in Victoria, Modern Cleaners & Laundry, Inc. will close its doors, the company announced Wednesday.

Rising costs and industry trends were among the reasons the company, gave regarding the close.

“The higher production costs, combined with a declining trend for dry cleaning and laundry services gave us little choice,” Keith Mudd, Modern Cleaners’ consultant and spokesman said in a news release.

It’s really a combination of about eight things, Mudd said, noting higher gas, natural gas and dry cleaning fluid prices, as well as improved fabrics and washing machines.

“There is still a need for dry cleaning in Victoria,” he said, noting that other local cleaners will pick up the extra workload and hopefully some of the company’s 65 employees after the close.

No decisions have been made regarding the property involved, according to the release, but ownership is considering placing the properties up for sale or lease.

Modern Cleaners considered ways to reduce overhead costs, company president Tom Preiss said in the release, but it predicted the market to continually decline through the years.

“Believe me, we have not come to this conclusion lightly,” Preiss said. “This has been a very tough and personal decision for all of us.”

Customers have until the end of August to pick up their clothing and the stores are no longer accepting orders.

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