Help Rebuild Crystal Cleaners After a Devastating Fire

Hi, my name is Joyce, and I’m writing this on behalf of my father, Jae — a man whose hard work, resilience, and dedication have shaped not only our family, but the community he’s served for decades.

Jae immigrated to America over 40 years ago in pursuit of a better life. With determination in his heart and barely anything in his pockets, he entered the dry cleaning industry and never looked back. For over 40 years — and at this current Crystal Cleaners location for more than 30 of them — he has worked seven days a week without complaint, showing up every single day with pride and purpose.

This business wasn’t just a job for him — it was his life’s work, his pride, and a true reflection of his dedication and perseverance.

But on April 4th, 2025, that legacy was torn apart. A devastating fire broke out and completely destroyed Crystal Cleaners. In a matter of hours, everything my dad spent decades building had vanished. Watching the flames consume his life’s work was heartbreaking — the tears and look of devastation on his face is something I will never forget.

While the loss is overwhelming, we are profoundly grateful that no one was hurt. In the midst of tragedy, that remains our deepest blessing — and for that, our hearts are filled with sincere and lasting gratitude.

As a family, we’re doing everything in our power to support my dad in picking up the pieces of what took him a lifetime to build. If you feel called to support, your kindness — in any amount — will go directly toward restoring the business, replacing essential equipment, and helping my father rebuild his life’s work from the ground up.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting. Your compassion means more than words can say.

With love and gratitude,

Joyce & Family

UPDATE AND A BIG THANK YOU:

To Our Dearest Friends, Community, Neighbors, and Family,

On behalf of Jae, I want to extend our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you—our loyal customers and friends, neighbors, fellow small business owners, the Ravenswood community, and the Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. Your love, generosity, and support during this incredibly difficult time have touched us more than words can express.

Since the fire, we’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness from so many. From sharing our story and offering words of encouragement, to pledging your time and energy—your compassion has shown us that Jae is not alone.

Every gesture, big or small, has lifted our spirits, reminded us of the incredible strength of this community, and given us the courage to face the road ahead.

This business is more than just a dry cleaning shop—it’s the life’s work of Jae in America, a reflection of his dedication, and a piece of our family’s heart.

From the bottom of our hearts, we truly thank each and every one of you—for standing by us, for showing up, and for reminding us of the power of community.

We’ll continue to share updates so you can follow along as we take steps toward rebuilding. Your encouragement means everything to us.

With all our love and gratitude,

Joyce & Family

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P.S. Due to the fire, our POS system was destroyed and we have lost all customer records and contact information. If you are a customer—or would simply like to stay in touch—please email us your name and phone number at so we can reach out to you directly. We truly appreciate your support and understanding during time.