Meet The Family Behind South Tampa’s ZIPS Dry Cleaners

Liz and Mike Montante opened up ZIPS Dry Cleaners, a full-service dry cleaning and laundry business, on a very special day nearly two years ago.

Liz explains, “We opened on my birthday? September 26!”

It’s a great start for a smart concept. 

“Even though we are a franchise. We are family owned.  It's myself and my wife working here. We have a manager with us, who ironically moved down from Maryland with us to come and to help us develop the ZIPS down in Florida,” Mike says.

ZIPS first opened its doors back in 2002 in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. There are now more than 60 ZIPS nationwide. This is the first ZIPS in the state of Florida.

Liz and Mike are so passionate about ZIPS’s business model.

Mike says, “Essentially, we are a one price, low price dry cleaner.”

The couple decided to move from their Maryland home and bring ZIPS here to South Tampa. 

“I have some family that live in Tampa and we had been traveling here back and forth and vacationing here and we just knew this was the place where we wanted to be,” Liz explains.

A huge step not just for Mike and Liz, but also their three boys. 

Luca, 7 years old, who proudly says of his dad, “He works at ZIPS.”  

And, brothers Nicky, 13 years old, and Anthony, 15 years old, are equally proud of their mom and dad. 

Nicky says, “The fact they had the guts to move from Maryland down here to start a business and take the risk.”

Anthony says, “I think what they're doing is great. I think that it was a good decision to move down here and start their own business. I think it's pretty cool.”

Back at ZIPS, Mike gives a tour of the facility beginning with a very welcoming customer drop off.

Mike says, “As you can see out here. It’s a little bit different than your average cleaners you go to. It's new and it's modern.”

In the back, there is a full-service laundry area.

“We wash everything at at least 145 degrees in temperature, also different detergents for different items,” Mike says. “Everything comes out sanitized, sanitary. It kills bacteria, viruses, germs”

The dry cleaning stations use high heat to sanitize the clothing.

Not only is ZIPS affordable, but it’s fast with a 24-hour turnaround. It’s also eco-friendly on top of being efficient and convenient. All dry-cleaned items are $2.49 and laundered shirts are $1.99.

Mike says, “So in the tagging station, you get a tag, and everything is barcoded and that is how we are able to identify whose it is and where it is from.”

The boys know their parents are coming from a business destined for even more success. 

Nicky says, “A teacher actually came up to me and said she drove like half an hour to go to ZIPS. And then she said it was like the best dry cleaners! She said it was like the nicest people she's ever met.”

“When people say ZIPS, my parents,” Anthony says. 

A mom and dad, husband and wife, that make a winning team and will never forget the day they opened their doors - the key to a great start for their family and the community they are servicing! 

Click here for more information about ZIPS Dry Cleaners of South Tampa: https://www.321zips.com/tampa/