History

Ernie Barbato proudly operates this second-generation, local family cleaner in the same region as his father first opened more than 50 years ago.  He traces his family roots back four generations to expert tailors in Italy.  

Ernie’s father John, affectionately known as Mr. John, grew up in a town right outside of Naples, Italy, called Avellino.   Each day after school, Mr. John’s father, Ernesto, would teach him the craft of tailoring and suit making.  By age twelve, Mr. John was making suit jackets and pants on his own.  Ernesto passed away when Mr. John was thirteen, leaving the tailoring business to his son.  

With thirty-five dollars in his pocket, and not speaking a word of English, Mr. John moved to the United States at age 18. He met and married his wife Millie and had a son, Ernie Barbato.  In 1963, when Ernie was 7 years old, Mr. John achieved his American Dream and opened his own Custom Clothing and Tailoring shop in Everett, Massachusetts; Mr. John’s Cleaners.

Growing up, Ernie spent his after school hours learning the craft of tailoring and suit making, much in the same way his father learned from his father, who learned from his father, and so on.  In 1973, Ernie met the love of his life, Rhonda.  They married and had two sons, Jonathan and Andrew. Ernie became a full partner is his father’s business, allowing Mr. John to work part time in 1981.  Part time for Mr. John meant only working 80 hours a week!  Around this time, the business also transitioned to Dry Cleaning and tailoring pre-made suits. 

When Mr. John passed away, Ernie recalled what his father always told him: “To be the best, you have to do what others only say.”  With that in mind, Ernie looked towards the future of Dry Cleaning.

By 2005 the world was changing. Global warming had become mainstream and Ernie felt sense of responsibility not only to his environment, but also to the safety of his loyal customers.  He began to run a “green” business that used energy efficient machines and was free of any harmful chemicals agents.  This process is known as 100 percent professional Wet Cleaning. Ernie shared his knowledge with other Dry Cleaners around the area, and was recognized by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute out of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in 2014.

That same year, Ernie took on Faulkner’s Cleaning in Melrose, Massachusetts so the owners could retire.  Since then, Faulkner’s Green Dry Cleaning has expanded our Pick-up and Delivery service to cover over a dozen towns north of Boston.  We continue to care for your clothes in a way that would make Mr. John and his father proud.  Thank you for being a part of our Dry Cleaning Family.

Get in touch

We at Faulkner’s Green Dry Cleaning know that caring finding a Dry Cleaners to care for your clothes the right is a choice not to be taken lightly. That’s why we offer free consultations to discuss your needs and how to keep your clothes looking their best.

Book an appointment ▸