Widmer’s opened its doors in 1910 at 2016 Madison Road. The company was named after its original owner Wes Widmer and started out offering high quality dry cleaning services to the Greater Cincinnati Area.

In 1950, the company was purchased by John Olmstead, Sr. who in 1986 sold it to his son John Olmstead, Jr. At this time the company had five dry cleaning routes and total sales of $300,000. John Jr. grew the company by adding more efficient home delivery routes and satellite stores in upscale neighborhoods. During this period Widmer’s also became known for their expertise in the restoration of vintage garments. The company even processed many of the vintage garments on display at the Smithsonian Institute. Some such items include Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Rider Suit and the suit that Abraham Lincoln was wearing when he was assassinated.

In 1998, two big changes happened in the company. The first was the sale of the company to the biggest dry cleaner on the east coast, The Zoots Corporation located in Boston. The second was the addition of their carpet cleaning and upholstery division. Widmer’s restoration divisions were a direct result of the success of the carpet cleaning division. Beginning with water restoration in the late 1990s, the new millennium brought on a host of other services including fire, mold and duct cleaning. This catastrophe cleaning has enabled the Widmer’s name to extend far beyond the Midwest through hurricane and disaster cleanup.

In 2006, Widmer’s partnered with two well known carpet cleaning companies, Security Amirkhanian and American Carpet Masters (located in Dayton). Both companies shared similar goals and vision to that of Widmer’s. Two years later the company was again under local ownership after being purchased by current owners, Steve Carico & Jack Cunningham. Each owner has shown their hard work and dedication to the company by working up through the ranks.

Today, Widmer’s is a multimillion dollar company. When asked how the company got so large in such a short time owner Steve Carico knows it is due to quality and reputation:

“Widmer’s got their good name because they always tried to produce the best quality possible,” and shares, “we focus on excellent service.”

Widmers’ has consistently been recognized both by loyal customers and numerous professional organizations. In fact, in 2006 this could not have been more apparent when the company was honored by the Better Business Bureau with The Torch Award, an award for marketplace ethics. In addition, Widmer’s was among the first cleaners in the world to be awarded the Award of Excellence by the Clothing Care Council.

Widmer’s strives to be an active participant for good deeds within the community. We contribute to many charities including the following:

Goodwill
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Free Store - Rubber Duck Regatta
Numerous Local Schools

We also have over twenty national affiliations associated with all three of our major divisions. The company stands today, after almost 100 years, as the largest dry cleaner in the Midwest and largest Carpet Cleaning and Restoration Company in the Greater Cincinnati Area.