The closure of local dry cleaners, such as GQ Cleaners and Kim's Cleaners, has signaled the struggles faced by small businesses during the pandemic. In Alexandria, Gary and Chong Whitesides, owners of Auburn Cleaners, hoped to attract customers from the closed establishments, but eventually, the pandemic forced them to shut down as well. The divergent economic consequences of the pandemic have affected small businesses in Northern Virginia differently, with some managing to survive while others have collapsed. Auburn Cleaners, a family-run operation, had anticipated a return to normalcy but was thwarted by the omicron variant. This led to the Whitesideses deciding to close their storefront, marking the end of their decades-long dry-cleaning business. Dry cleaning has historically served as a pathway to the middle class for immigrant families, particularly Korean Americans living in the D.C. region. However, even prior to the pandemic, these businesses were facing challenges as younger generations were not interested in taking over. Additionally, changing workplace attire norms further reduced the demand for dry-cleaning services. The number of dry cleaners in Alexandria remained relatively stable during the initial phase of the pandemic, but experts predict that more closures are on the horizon. Auburn Cleaners briefly reopened with limited hours to serve essential workers, but business never returned to pre-pandemic levels.