In the heart of San Jose, where job interviews can change lives, one small business owner is making sure that looking sharp isn’t another obstacle on the road to recovery.
Ali Shirkhodaei, the owner of Lux Cleaning and Alterations on West Campbell Avenue, is pressing more than just clothes, he’s pressing hope into the hearts of those down on their luck. And he’s doing it all… for free.
Every week, about 5 to 10 people walk through Lux’s doors carrying not just wrinkled shirts but the weight of unemployment. They leave with crisp clothes and a little more confidence, all thanks to Ali’s offer of complimentary cleaning and pressing for anyone headed to a job interview.
“I think it will definitely give them some hope that the community they live in cares about them,” Ali told San José Spotlight. “It’s not about just getting, it’s about giving. That’s the part that brings all of us joy.”
And for one recent customer? That joy turned into a job. A woman popped in for a quick shirt press on her way to a tech interview. Not only did she nail the interview, but she returned afterward, glowing with gratitude. She even left a five-star Yelp review saying, “I definitely felt the love of my community.”
Ali and his team were ecstatic. “We were more excited than she was,” he said, smiling.
Kindness like this isn’t new for Ali, it’s sewn into every stitch of his story. After immigrating from Iran in 1986 with a degree in molecular biology, Ali struggled to find work in his field. So, he pivoted, building Lux Cleaners from the ground up in Silicon Valley. Today, it’s a thriving business known for tackling everything from delicate Indian sarees to wedding dresses with precision, care, and, you guessed it, a whole lot of heart.
He says he got the idea for this goodwill gesture after talking with other dry cleaners about how they could give back. It was a no-brainer for him. For Ali, good business means good deeds.
“That’s one of the things that I love about having a small business and dealing with people on a daily basis,” he said. “I see many different faces every day and believe me, a small smile can change their day.”
So next time you walk past a dry cleaner, just know, behind that quiet hum of machines, someone like Ali might be giving someone their next big break, one freshly-pressed shirt at a time.
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