New ownership for the Neepawa Laundromat

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Published on Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Photo By  Jessica Morton

Brad Hackewich (left) along with wife Carly and daughter, Casey receive the keys to Neepawa Dry Cleaners from owner Judy and Ken Dalgliesh on May 31, 2018. The Dalglieshes bought the operation from Jack and Lorna McDougall (right) in 1998.

By Jessica Morton

Neepawa Banner & Press

On Thursday, May 31, at 3:45 p.m. the Neepawa Dry Cleaners officially changed owners, for the fifth time in its history.

Judy Dalgliesh, who ran the business for 20 years, handed over the company to Brad Hackewich and family. Dalgliesh has no specific plans for retirement yet but said “I will be a full time grandma.” When asked what the future plans of the company are Hackewich replied “We are going to keep operations the same, do some slight renovations to freshen the building up and we will be having a re-opening celebration in July.”

Many years ago, what started out as an empty lot turned into a piece of Neepawa’s history. In 1924 E.G. Hipwell started a business which manufactured “Hips” fruit flavoured syrups out of Arden, Manitoba. In the following years his son, Justin Hipwell, was brought in to the business. In 1950 Justin moved to Neepawa and built the block that is known today as the “Neepawa dry cleaning and laundromat,” as the fruit flavoured syrup business spread through central and western Canada. The fruit syrup business was sold in 1976. During the slower winter months Justin operated a fur dealership called “Paris Furs,” which lasted until 1980 when he retired. On September, 21, 1978 Jack and Lorna McDougall opened the coin-operated dry cleaners and laundromat facility. The McDougall’s then sold their business to Jim Lukin, who, in 1998, sold the building to Judy Dalgliesh.

Lower left: Neepawa Dry Cleaners as it appeared in 1998.

Lower right: The building as it appeared in the 1950’s.