Margaret, the seamstress, is amazing and I recommend her without any hesitation. I was in a pinch with a strapless bridesmaid dress that wouldn't stay on and had already visited another (highly recommended but horrible) tailor who made minor changes but didn't address the problem. Margaret carefully listened to my concerns and worked with me to find a solution. She ended up rebuilding the entire top section of the dress into a scoop neck. Not only was it comfortable and stayed in place, but people at the wedding thought it had been ordered that way from the start. It looked so professional. In addition to her excellent work, Margaret also made me feel confident in the process along the way, allowing me to try it on at various stages of production so I knew the end result would be perfect. I have sent other people to her for alterations and everyone's been very pleased. I complete recommend her work. read more

I had a great experience with Valet. I spoke with the owner regarding two shoes I needed them to be fixed. He was very helpful and honest. I had one pair with high heels that I lost the tip of it's heel, and couldn't wear it anymore. The other one was Ralph Lauren's boots that I was so disappointed with, after I wore them for few times the heels got damaged. This one I had to call the customer service of Ralph's as the owner suggested since it's hard to be fixed (he did not say " it costs $$$ and it will be done on *** " like other places. He was so honest about it, and I really appreciated his honesty. In addition to what was stated above - being a student at American University, they give you a discount just for that. Plus they are the cheapest/best place you'd ever find in DC as far as I found out from searching. I'd say go with confident, they are great! read more

I brought a pair of jeans to be altered by Margaret. The hem turned out fine, and I also asked to have the waist brought in. I was kind of annoyed by the fact that she put in two obvious darts in the back of the jeans, instead of creating one dart and hiding it behind the belt loop like my previous tailor did. The jeans aren't ruined or anything, but I'll probably bring my next pair to someone else. I haven't use them for cleaning or shoe repair so I can't comment on that. read more

I called ahead to ask if they would be able to replace a zipper on a duffle bag. The woman on the phone kindly explained that they certainly could and it would cost about $8-12. I took my duffle to the shop; the man at the counter was more interested in his TV than his customers. He told me they don't replace zippers on duffle bags. read more

Friendly people and $10 dollars cheaper than all the places I checked around Metro Center and Bethesda. A great job, too. read more

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Joe Corvelli and staff are gems in the community. Traditional, customer-focused service, excellent workmanship, and fair pricing. This is the kind of business a neighborhood needs and the business owners care about their clients. read more

this place is fairly pricey, but i've generally been satisfied with their outcomes. i've gotten some alternations done there and haven't had any complaints. if you can find a cheaper and more convenient place...i'd suggest doing that. read more

I've gone here for dry cleaning, shoe repair, and leather repair, and have had great experiences with all of the above. They also give an AU student discount for dry cleaning. read more

First, I went by this place after work one day to have some pants tailored. They told me that the seamstress leaves in the early afternoon so there was no one there to pin my pants. Then, I came back one day in the middle of the day and the owner was there. He said that the girls can usually pin the pants and the seamstress can take care of it next time she comes in, but at that time that no one was there at the time to even pin my pants. Then, today I went back in the morning around 8 and again, there was no one there to pin my pants. They told me the seamstress told them not to do the pinning for her anymore. So, if you want tailoring, don't go to this place in the morning, afternoon or evening. Just go somewhere else. read more

I brought Margaret a very expensive coat to simply shorten the sleeves a bit. She totally f*(&*()&*) ruined it. The tailoring only cost $15 but I could have done a better job with scotch tape. She didn't even bother to copy the simple stiching that was originally there. No attention to detail whatsoever. The sleeves looked like I just tucked them in. Moreover, she didn't even line the sleeves up properly. They are about 1/4 inch off. PLEASE DO NOT BRING anything beyond sewing buttons for that woman to fix. I don't know what possessed me to rely on one person's review here when the rest of the reviews about this shop were about their shoe business. Never again!!! read more

Wonderful! Super old-school, friendly neighborhood drycleaner. The owner started recognizing me on just my second visit. The cleaning is done on-premises (I believe) and is done super quickly for a wonderful price. Been using them for two months now and haven't been disappointed once. The one caveat is that a woman who works there (I'm not sure if there's more than one woman, but I've only seen one) isn't as friendly when I interact with her as opposed to one of the brothers. But still, a quality drycleaning situation. I haven't tried them for shoe repair yet. Reasonable prices compared to some other places! read more

In terms of shoe repair, American Valet is the best. I went in with two pairs of shoes to get fixed that day before vacation. The shoe man was apparently out. The head guy that is always there, put a few stitches in one shoe to make them last for my four-day vacation, and as for the other shoes, he was like no worries, they will last four days no problem and just bring them back later. And he didn't charge me for the first repair. Later when i brought them back i got both pairs fixed for $12.75, great deal. I would definitely recommend this place as a great place to get your shoes repaired, definitely what we all need in these financially stressful times. read more

I have taking my clothes to get cleaned here for over a year now and they always do a fantastic job! They are conveniently located near the Tenleytown/AU Metro so if you don't have a car its not too far; just across the street. I have also taken my shoes to get fixed there. They were done in only a couple of days and the results were great! read more

I was charged 77 dollars for sewing on four patches and changing a set of buttons. If this doesn't justify a 1 star review I simply do not know what will. Nice people but at then end of the day, it's a business not a charity and have no qualms about complaining about 77 DOLLARS for a few patches and buttons. Avoid if you don't want to be grossly overcharged. Full stop. read more

I was extremely pleased with the service here and discovering that it is a family business. The family was so friendly when I dropped off my boots and picked them up when they were ready, much sooner than anticipated (they even called to say the boots were already ready). I'm happy with the results, and my back-to-new boots, with heel and zipper repair nicely done. They make an effort to establish a positive and attentive customer-client connection and sense of community. read more

While I think this place is pricey in general, I am very satisfied with the results of my shoe repairs. The only downside is that I do not like the idea of a down payment. There is a place a block away that does not have such a silly requirement and they do a decent shoe repair job as well. I have brought in my pants (both dress and jeans) to be altered here: the dress pants job was very poorly done. I think they came undone after a few washes and I had to have my mom redo them when I went home for the the holidays. However, they did a great job on the jeans. S read more

I was very disappointed in repair work done on a pair of jeans. The material had thinned at the thigh and I brought them in to have patches sewn on the inside of both legs at that area. When I got them home, I saw that large patches had been plunked on the area, and scattered stitches applied - the patch was half sewn on, and would have come off at first wear. I could have done a better job myself, and I don't even know how to professionally sew. One cotton dress, one cotton sweater, one linen blouse, one pair of jeans to patch in two places - and the bill was $65. For THREE items to clean and one to patch shoddily? I don't think so. Daisy read more

Joe and team are "the cleaners" in AU Park. Nothing fancy but they get the job done. Highly recommend for shoe repairs. Not crazy expensive and quality work. read more

I went to this place based on the reviews: please please please do not go here. i had 2 pairs of shoes fixed, and they charged 130$ for both shoes. i also had a zipper replaced and i prepaid, and they said it "didn't show on the receipt" so i paid again: 30$ total for zipper repair. ridiculous. one pair of my shoes came back great--no complaints. the other pair was a vintage pair of black boots--something maybe a 1930's hobo would wear. of course, any shoe person would say that my shoes were pieces of crap, but i LOVED that look about them!!! they were soft and a little bit scuffed but the thin leather sole on the bottom had come apart at the shoe seam--something that typically DOES NOT require a new sole, but just a little shoe glue and a vice. they said that it was needed, so i said okay but that it was absolutely crucial that they keep the original aesthetic of the shoes, with THIN LEATHER SOLES. they came back with a HIDEOUS rubber sole covered in black glue, completely ruining my shoes. they looked like cheap work boots instead of the lovably worn shoes i bought. they also shined them, making them look like they were dipped in black paint, when i specifically asked them NOT to do that!! when i complained, the man at the desk acted as if i was completely inconveniencing him and reluctantly agreed to put on a pair of leather soles. but as i tried to explain to him what i wanted he continued to dismiss me as if i was crazy for trying to specify what i wanted AFTER THEY HAD ALREADY F***ED UP ONCE. i know they'll come back with huge, clunky leather soles--still destroying my lovely shoes. if they had just communicated with me, i wouldn't have paid 65$ to loose a pair of vintage shoes i know i'll never be able to replace.... read more

When others insisted that they had to change my whole heels to add a heel tap and charge me $37 + $15, American Valet was able to just add the tap. They told me that my heel was getting low but didn't make it a condition for honoring my request which had everything to do with how my feet pronate. They've now got my business for everything else. Plus, they thrown in effortless free parking and a sense of community. read more

The older man that works there was very pleasant. I moved up here from Richmond and was surprised to see the prices were the same which was a huge plus! I got a skirt hemmed which came out great! Also a good pair of my heels needed new heel tips and they look brand new! A pleasant surprise was they got rid of a mark on the tip of one of my shoes and polished them which I was not expecting! Definitely will use them again! read more

I have brought three different pairs of shoes here for new soles and refurbishment during the past five years. They resoled and refurbished two of my shoes twice. They have done a great job each time in making my heavily used shoes almost new. I have never used these guys for dry cleaning. But they do excellent shoe repairs. read more

Great place. The owners and their family are always there and really make you feel like an appreciated customer. Would highly recommend if you live in upper NW! read more

(this review is for shoe repair only.) got my boot repaired here and was very pleased with the results. i'll admit that after my experience at cleveland park valet, almost anything would've pleased me, but still, i'll give AVS 4 stars. they were fast - even though when i arrived it was completely crowded with customers, i got to the front of the line quickly. they were friendly and honest, telling me they couldn't fix my boots to look exactly the same, but could close the hole and get it as close to the seam as possible (the rip was right next to the seamline). and the price of $15 was reasonable to me (considering what i'd paid for the boots originally). when i returned to p/u the boot, they opened the bag and showed it to me to inspect and to make sure they were giving me the correct shoe. it looked great, and i don't think anyone could tell i had them repaired or that there was ever a tear unless i had my feet in their face! i see that there are a few bad reviews for their tailoring services, and i'm kind of bummed about that b/c i was planning to go back with a coat that i just ripped, but i'd rather not take the risk. i'll go back for shoes though. i already have 2 pair by the door, ready to go. read more

I use them to fix my shoes and do my dry cleaning and both of their services are great! Plus, they have a friendly staff.

I had several large items laundered here after a particularly stressful personal ordeal, and I cannot speak highly enough of the customer service that Joe provided. When I picked up my belongings, they were exceptionally clean. More importantly, Joe was willing to listen to the details of my story and helped me carry my rather voluminous belongings out of the building, allowing me to actually see where I was going and not collapse under the weight of all my stuff. This was my first experience with American Valet, and will certainly not be my last. read more

Great prompt dry cleaning service. Had to get something done in a rush and they were able to do it the same day. Have had shirts, pants and a jacket dry cleaned and have been very happy with the results. read more

I was promised a student discount as a current college student which I did not receive. Additionally, they ruined a simple pink cotton strapless dress I brought it by splattering purple and brown ink on it across the skirt. I'm incredibly disappointed. read more

I love this place! I have had some HORRENDOUS experiences with drycleaners close to me in Woodley Park (see my Yelp review on Debonair Cleaners for more information on that) so I went back to my roots- bringing my drycleaning back to where I brought it when I was in college at AU: American Valet next to Guapos in Tenleytown. They have been there for 50 years so they really know their stuff and take great pride in it- you can't be a crappy service provider in DC, especially messing around with suits and work clothes in this city. The seamstress is my favorite part- I take all my pants to her to get taken in and she is VERY good at what she does and makes my pants fit flawlessly without any mistakes. They can be a little pricey I guess, but I am super happy with them and their work, they are proud of what they do, good well-established business people. The owner knows people when they walk in and calls them by name and they have a great bowl of assorted hard candies all the time which makes your visit that much more pleasant. It has a small-town feel in a busy city. I give it 4 stars probably because I haven't experienced all their services like shoe repair, but they definitely have a lifelong customer out of me as long as I live in DC. read more

They've done a great job of fixing my boots. The place is pricey but I think it's worth the quality of work you get for your money. The only complaint I have is the time it takes them to get the shoes back - 3-4 days. Wish they offered the next day service read more

Good service and very accommodating. Got a suit and 5 shirts cleaned from there and everything was ready next day.

As one reviewer stated, the staff is hostile. But more significantly, the shoe repair work was shabby. I brought a shoe in to be repaired and rather than fix it properly, the sling back strap was carelessly glued to the rest of the shoe. When I tried it on, the strap broke again instantly. I took the shoe back to ask for a refund and the owner and staff refused to give me the full amount stating instead they did not believe they charged that much for such a bad job! Not only did they not repair the shoe but they were very rude and disrespectful as well. read more

so, this place is no longer awesome for dry cleaning. not sure what happened, but three of my things were destroyed at the same time. navy silk dress was destroyed, not sure of the chemicals used, but the dress is not almost gray with an extra stain?!, lavender blouse has a hole in it, and I guess they forgto to even dryclean my jacket. sad, they did such good work before.... well atleast I dont have to go all the way to Tenley to get my drycleaning. read more

So, I just took a pair of new sandals in to get an extra hole punched in the straps, which the really nice woman on the phone said would be a very easy thing. The guy who helped me was surly and clearly bothered by the request. But he went to get the hole punch tool and grumpily punched holes in the wrong place. Then he was even grumpier about re-punching them. Then I realized that instead of getting a new hole between the two that didn't work, he'd just created one long hole in each sandal strap, making them completely useless. Turns out he wasn't the shoe repair guy but failed to mention that before agreeing to punch the holes and just said, "I knew I shouldn't have done this." The conversation went downhill from there. Bottom line is that I left the sandals for the shoe repair guy to "fix" tomorrow, but am not feeling optimistic. Had I not seen the positive reviews, I totally would've gone someplace else. In fact, the non-shoe repair guy suggested that I should. That was after he ruined my sandals, though. read more

This is a great dry cleaner! Everything comes back fresh and clean and they're terrific at getting stains and spots out. Better than any other dry cleaner I've tried. The clothes smell great and they stand behind their work. I've also never had a broken button or problem with anything I've had cleaned there. They're a long time local business and are very friendly to customers. Joe is one of the owners and is usually behind the counter. I highly recommend them. read more

I don't usually post reviews on Yelp but I was so frustrated by the service here that I couldn't wait to post this. I dropped off two VERY expensive pairs of heels to have the heel tips replaced. They seemed nice enough so I was hopeful I'd be a returning customer. I came back a week later to pick up my heels and they asked for a ticket,which I don't remember the guy ever giving me one. I had the business card he gave me but unfortunately that's all I had from them. The lady was nice enough and grabbed a bag for me which I gladly paid for and left. For some reason I drove all the way home before I thought to check the bag to see if both pairs of heels were there. Just my luck they weren't. So I turned around and came back. I told the man that I had two pairs in my order and he kept telling me I must be confused. Hello, I think I would know where I left my shoes. After a lot of eye rolling and huffing and puffing and a whole lot of RUDE comments he finally found my heels. I paid and couldn't get out of there fast enough. The worst customer service ever. I'll never be going back. I suggest you learn how to interact with your customers better. read more

I am so sad to write this, as our family has been loyal customers of Joe and American Valet for years. But I agree with others; they've slipped lately and haven't turned it around. They laundered instead of dry cleaned two of my favorite (and most expensive) work dresses. One came back extremely damaged - the white part of the fabric tuned grey (seemingly impossible to do to a polyester blend?), the shell shrunk 3 inches above the lining, and the large satin belt and bow were shredded and barely still attached to the dress. What was more disturbing is that they put it on a hanger and gave it to me as if nothing had happened! I didn't realize it had been destroyed until I went to wear it! The other dress, a dark navy and cream polka dot cotton-blend, apparently bled during the dry cleaning process. Without calling me, they decided to launder it to counteract the bleeding. This ruined the dress. Again, they said nothing to me and I didn't realize there was an issue until I went to wear it. I called Joe to discuss these matters. He blamed me for his negligence ("you should have known that all black and white clothes bleed during dry cleaning." In fact, his shop had dry cleaned one of the dresses without incident for years before destroying it). He eventually offered to do the right thing and reluctantly paid me for the value of one of the dresses. But now, every time we take anything that is even remotely black/white or navy//white, he requires us to explicitly authorize him to dry clean it and says that he won't be responsible if it gets ruined. It's like we're being punished and blamed every time. No thank you. We have taken all but our routine dry cleaning business elsewhere. read more

This place is terrible. DO NOT GO THERE unless you have the simplest shirt/pants to be cleaned. I dropped off a coat and two purses for repair on 4/18. l was told it would be ready by Wednesday and he would get back to me about the purses. Not only did never get back to me but when I called on 4/30, he first said that I lost the tickets he gave me, and that he wasn't the person I spoke to. I was only given one ticket, which I have right front of me, and YES you were the one that took care of me. He eventually found my purses, which no one had looked at, then proceed to say, "The purses are marked with pink ticket #this, and pink ticket #that, so you obviously lost the tickets but that's besides the point." Are you kidding me? Everyone there is so unbelievably rude and disrespectful. Your things will never be ready when they say, and they will try and blame someone else for something instead of being helpful. read more