This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

Manhattan Cleaners & Hat Works is a full-plant dry cleaner and hat-blocking shop on Swope Parkway, opened in 1935 by James and Martha King at 22nd and Vine and run since the early 1970s by their son Michael King. It is one of the oldest continuously operating Black-owned businesses in Kansas City, has never closed in ninety years, and still does its cleaning, hat restoration and shoe repair on site. The shop came within reach of closing in late 2024 and stayed open when a group of long-tenured employees took over daily operations.

Description

Manhattan Cleaners & Hat Works occupies a low storefront at 5847 Swope Parkway in southeast Kansas City. It is a full plant rather than a drop shop: the cleaning, pressing and finishing all happen on the premises, and the only category of work sent elsewhere is leather.1 That distinction matters in a trade that has largely consolidated into counter locations feeding a handful of central plants — Manhattan is one of a shrinking number of KC shops where the machinery and the garment are in the same building as the customer.

The hat side is the shop’s signature. Michael King blocks and restores hats using traditional equipment and technique handed down through the business, and it is the part of the work he has kept for himself in semi-retirement.1 The shop’s family motto, repeated in local coverage, is “If you can wear it, we can clean it.”2 Alongside cleaning and hats, the shop takes clothing restoration and shoe repair.1

Manhattan is among the oldest continuously operating Black-owned businesses in Kansas City. Local reporting stresses that in ninety years it has never closed — through the Depression, the Second World War, and the COVID-19 pandemic.1

Goods and services

  • Dry cleaning — full service, all work completed on site except leather1
  • Hat blocking and restoration — traditional methods and inherited equipment; Michael King’s own specialty1
  • Clothing restoration1
  • Shoe repair1
  • Laundry and pressing3
  • Commercial cleaning enquiries and quote requests are handled through the shop’s website4

History

James and Martha King opened Manhattan Cleaners in 1935 at 22nd and Vine, in the middle of the jazz district and at the depth of the Depression.13 Their son Michael King came into the business and took over operations when his father needed heart surgery; sources place his ownership from 1972.13 In 1966 the business moved from 22nd and Vine to 5847 Swope Parkway, where it has been for six decades.12

In November 2024 King came close to shutting the business down. A group of long-tenured employees persuaded him to let them take over day-to-day management while he retained the finances and the hat work; the shop stayed open with nine employees.1 As of the July 2025 reporting, King was looking for a buyer who would keep the name and the dry-cleaning trade going, with the intention of carrying the shop to its centenary in 2035.1

Sources

Footnotes

  1. The Community Voice — “KC’s Manhattan Cleaners: Historic Black-Business Not Done Yet,” 8 July 2025 — asserts: founded 1935 by James and Martha King at 22nd and Vine; moved to 5847 Swope Parkway in 1966; Michael King, 80, is the owner and took over when his father needed heart surgery; near-closure in November 2024 and the employee-led arrangement that followed; nine employees; all dry cleaning done on site with only leather sent out; clothing restoration, shoe repair and hat blocking with traditional equipment; ninety years without closing, through the Depression, WWII and COVID-19; King is seeking a buyer who will keep the name and reach the 100-year mark. This is the freshest and strongest source, and the primary evidence of current operation. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13

  2. Better Business Bureau — business profile, Manhattan Cleaners and Hat Works, Kansas City, MO — asserts: the business at 5847 Swope Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64130, phone (816) 523-4486, in the dry-cleaners category; the family motto “If you can wear it, we can clean it” and the 1966 move are attributed to King in coverage surfaced alongside this profile. Used for contact details and category confirmation. ↩ ↩2

  3. The Next Page KC — Nika Renee, “Local Black Owned Dry Cleaning Company Has Kept Its Doors Open For Nearly 88 Years,” 12 January 2024 — asserts: business established 1935 by Martha and James King at 22nd and Vine; located at 5847 Swope Parkway; Michael King has owned the business since 1972; dry cleaning and hat restoration; nearly 88 years of operation as of publication. Independent corroboration of the founding facts from a second outlet. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. Manhattan Cleaners & Hat Works — official site, contact page — asserts: address 5847 Swope Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64130; phone (816) 523-4486; commercial cleaning enquiries and online quote requests; the hat works division. Confirms a live first-party web presence as of the 2026-08-14 fetch. Note: hours are not published on this page. ↩

Categories

On the record — ks.city/registry/manhattan-cleaners-and-hat-works · record updated 2026-08-14