Patrons can get clothes from closed cleaners

Patrons of a shuttered dry cleaners in Westbury who have been trying since Tuesday to retrieve prom outfits and other items will get the chance Saturday to get their clothing back.

Nassau County officials said they fielded hundreds of complaints after the owner of Lewis Cleaners was evicted Tuesday for nonpayment of rent.

Many complaints came from families with youngsters whose prom outfits were being cleaned or altered, County Attorney John Ciampoli said.

"After the business owner was evicted during operating hours, the calls started coming in," to County Executive Edward Mangano and legislative Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow), Ciampoli said. "And they both asked my office to see what we could do to help."

Ciampoli won a court order Friday to have the clothes returned to the cleaners from warehouse storage.

Ciampoli said the clothing will be available from noon to 4 p.m., and that customers should bring their claim checks. Workers hired by a court-assigned receiver will handle the transactions.

Lewis owner Moo Wong Lee could not be reached for comment Friday.