Took a pair of unfinished suit pants to be hemmed. I asked Vartan if he could have them ready a day earlier than the usual one week turnaround time. He said absolutely and refused to accept any extra fee (which I offered). The pants were hemmed perfectly and I was ready for the event the next morning. 5 stars! read more

I can't recommend this tailor and dry cleaning shop enough. Turnaround times are always clear and reliable -- when Vartan (owner) says something will be ready, it's ready, which is rare and hugely appreciated. He is friendly and easy to work with, and he's happy to take on everything from simple hemming and sewing to more involved patching and alterations. No matter the garment or the request, Vartan is thoughtful, skilled, and honest about what's possible. It's become one of those neighborhood spots you trust completely and keep coming back to. read more

Vartan is is friendly and efficient, his cleaning is excellent and cheaper than any other cleaner I've used in the metro/metrowest area. Glad I found him after moving to Cambridge! read more

I dropped my clothing off to be cleaned and he lost it. When I asked what is he going to do about it he said he would just call the people that did the cry cleaning? what lol? Its been a few weeks now and despite following up with him I never heard back. The guy also has a nasty attitude. This place is awful. Don't ever come here for anything read more

Vartan is the best! He is always so friendly and kind when I come into his shop. He does high quality work in a timely manner and is very accomodating on occassions when I've asked him to do something in a tighter timeframe. He does great work and I wouldn't trust anyone else with my tailoring. I highly recommend Vartan to everyone I know! read more

I take the hour or so round trip to Vartan, and have so since I can remember (at least 20 years and maybe 30). Tremendous service and the only tailor we would trust with our clothes. Yes, he doesn't take credit cards and as CPA I consider this a good business decision. His hours are limited these days, which I consider a win vs his retiring, which I'm confident he could do if wanted. read more

In my experience Valdon the owner deserves 5 stars. I have brought in Brioni, Zegna suits for alteration. I would not trust these suits to just any tailor. A good one is hard to find. The jackets needed shortening of the sleeves and they also needed to have the waist taken in. I was very pleased with the result and would highly recommend. Yes, cash only. read more

Does a great job, just be aware that this place is on the pricier side for tailoring. It will be about 80 dollars to shorten a simple skirt or dress. read more

Have the wrong hours on door. Says they open at 10 but have tried multiple days at that time with no luck. Wouldn't waste you're time here with all the other options in the area. Very disappointing read more

Been using this dry cleaner for a few years now and it has always been a 5 star experience. Vartan, the owner, is super nice, helpful and we have some great conversations every time I go there. The clothes are always returned in great condition and have good turnaround time. He accepts only cash but for the good price you get, I think it's worth it. read more

Lol absolutely absurd prices don't go here unless you want to pay $1,000 for a minor alteration

The best! So happy I found this gem of an amazing place in Cambridge after being a resident for only a few years. Vartan is so sweet and warm, truly a fantastic experience to come in and simply talk. Being a fellow Armenian myself, it's so prideful and exciting to meet other amazing Armenians! I went in to have three jeans hemmed, they came out perfect, took about a week to complete and at such a reasonable fair price. Love it. Will be a regular here for sure! read more

Sadly I agree with other comments below on owner being rude and unapologetic. Takes no responsibility on whatever happened. Worst customer service i have ever experienced in my life. Instead of saying simply "sorry", they will yell at you. read more

Great local cleaner. Very experienced in what they do and decent turn around time. Wish they accept credit card though: some of my cleaning are work expenditures and it would save me a lot of paperwork/time if they can accept corporate credit card. read more

Holy cow. Vartan is the sweetest human. He and his brothers grew up sewing under his father, who was a tailor. He's a fantastic, warm communicator who really lives and breathes fabric, and he'll be honest with you about care and optimal solutions. Amazing value for such an experienced, spectacular human. Will be back here many times in the future. read more

Called to find out if I could get some thing tailered. Was asked when I needed it by. Today is Thursday so I said Tuesday. He goes you want me to work Sunday?! No one works on the weekend. Me: Oh ok thank you....good bye! He may get a lot of service from the city of cambridge but me... PASS I just called Parise Cleaners, didn't get a smart ass on the phone and he was extremely helpful. read more

I walked in to pick up my clothes with my baby in my arms. I didn't have my slip. The owner chose to shame me to to other customers because I didn't have it. He said, "She is being punished for not bringing her slip" when the other customers asked him why he wasn't helping me. read more

Vartan is seriously the best! He's the only person I trust with my dry cleaning and tailoring. I've taken him everything from jeans on their last legs, cashmere with holes for repair, to my wedding dress, and he doesn't disappoint. Not only is he reasonably priced, remembers all his customers by name, but will be up front and honest with you. If a stain won't come out, he'll tell you in advance so you don't waste your time and money. He has integrity and skills, which means I will be a customer for life! **Just know that he is cash only** read more

Owner is rude and condescending. I left something there for a couple months and he could simply not be bothered to look for it. I called multiple times to see if he had bothered to look for it and each call was met with disdain and irritability. Maybe if you had a digitized inventory system rather than a box full of disorganized tickets, you could find things you dinosaur! Needless to say, with the expensive price and terrible customer service, we will never be back. read more

Love this guy. Vartan is a local favorite in East Cambridge. He is a dedicated tailor and very proud of his work, as he should be. He's quick, kind and careful. I brought in a gorgeous jacket that I discovered in a vintage store, but it was way too big for me. He took care of it within a week. Every bit of it needed taking in and tweaking, including the lining, so it was not a simple task. He charged me $30 and it was well worth it; everyone loves this jacket when I wear it, and I wear it often. I would not trust anyone else with my dry cleaning, but Vartan really shines with his tailoring skills. He wins awards around East Cambridge. And he deserves them. You will probably see some Cambridge cops in here because this is where they go, too. Cambridge cops are the best, so if they bring their dry cleaning and tailoring needs in here, who are we to argue? Cash only. Thanks, Vartan. read more

I did a lot of research before taking in a jacket and a couple pairs of pants, as I'm new to this part of Cambridge. No surprise that the best reviews took me to a member of the Papazian family (I've had good experiences with them in Bedford and Porter Sq). Vartan was friendly and helpful. I had two pairs of pants hemmed ($12/ea) and the sleeves on a jacket shortened ($30 due to having to move buttons, etc). This is about as inexpensive as it gets and the quality was great. It took a little longer than I had expected (a little over a week), but Vartan had it ready when he said he would. Overall, I'd happily go back. read more

Avoid at all costs. Rude, unprofessional, and completely unapologetic about terrible customer service. Their hours on the door and on the website say that they open at 8:30. As a working professional with a full time job, getting there at that time requires me to adjust my daily schedule and go in late to work. Regardless, I showed up at 8:30 exactly one morning to pick up a jacket that I had dropped off. There were no lights on, the door was locked - no signs of life. I knocked, looked through the windows, stood out front for a few minutes.. nothing. So I leave, frustrated, and without my jacket. In the car on the way to work, I called the store to ask if they would be open at the normal time the next day. The owner immediately fired back without any sort of apology, saying (lying) that he had been in the store at 8:30 that morning. Further, he proceeded to blame me for the whole problem. When I went in the next day to grab my jacket, I got the same rude treatment. The owner clearly does not abide by the 'customer comes first' mentality. I will not EVER be taking my business there again and I hope this post discourages others from doing so as well. read more

My husband has been having his shirts cleaned at Cambridge Street Cleaners for many years and we have also taken our dry cleaning and mending to Vartan for a long time. Vartan is very good. However, in our experience Vartan has not accepted responsibility for problems. Recently my husband brought in a fairly new gray top of mine for dry cleaning and it came back with numerous large white discoloration marks on both the front and back of the top. A few days later my husband and I brought back the top and nicely pointed this out, expecting an apology and offer to re-clean it. Instead Vartan became angry, leaving my husband and I open-mouthed since we had done nothing except to politely point out the problem with my top. He pointed out several articles of women's clothing to me including a visibly dirty bridal dress saying angrily that the customer did not point out that the dress was dirty. His son intervened and said they would send my top back for another try. Vartan stood there however and continued an angry rant. My top was sent back for re-cleaning and came back okay. My husband subsequently returned to Vartan with shirts to clean (I would never go back to Vartan) and Vartan told my husband he would no longer accept his business because he had agreed with his wife. We have lived in Cambridge for 40 years and have never been treated this way by any business. read more

Vartan is a great tailor. Honest and skilled. I trust him him my wardrobe and I'm always satisfied with the results. Prices and turnaround time are very reasonable for high quality work. I now recommend him to anyone looking for a great tailor. Don't lose your ticket! Better yet, when you drop something off snap a quick picture of your ticket as a backup! read more

The best tailor in town! I've gotten all of my bridesmaid dresses done here and I will be getting my wedding gown altered here as well :).

A gem of a place: top-notch workmanship, with a real neighborhood vibe. After working with Vartan (owner), I wouldn't go anywhere else. I use him mostly for alterations work, which is the focus of this review, and the occasional dry cleaning. Other places may offer quicker turn-around times (alterations here usually take a week - sometimes two, in peak season; most cleaning is faster) but I have always found the quality of Vartan's workmanship well worth the inconvenience. My mother (who lives in Europe and is - bless her - persnickety about everything) now goes so far as to bring alterations with her when she visits! Such is our esteem. If you need honest advice on your alterations, this is the place. After losing a significant amount of weight over the last few years, I have been bringing in some of my clothes to get them sized-down: Vartan is always straightforward about what is worth altering, and what will end up looking bad. I've learned that when it comes to this kind of stuff, it's better to shut up and listen to Vartan: he's been doing this longer than I've been alive. I've read the one-star reviews here, and chuckled. I can very much see Vartan turning down unreasonable requests, and customers. Personally, I find it part of his charm and would probably do the same myself. Be reasonable: don't show up months later without a ticket, don't expect to be able to rush alterations (he's done it for me before - but it's an exception), and don't forget to bring cash (there's a huge sign behind the counter, I don't know why so many people are caught unaware). Yes, these are all small annoyances in a convenience-obsessed era, but I very much guarantee your clothes will look all the better for it. read more

Finding the right tailor is essential for a smart wardrobe. I found my tailor here. Vartan is, simply put, one of the greats. Professional, reliable, and friendly. His prices and turnaround time are always fair, which is a notable achievement considering how busy he is. Come in and you'll see why so many of his clients keep coming back to him for years. Whether its cleaning or alterations, you can expect quality craftsmanship from this place. Remember to bring cash and always, ALWAYS take a picture of the little pink slip with your order # ... if you're anything like me, you'll probably lose it or forget it at home. Thank you, Vartan, for helping me look my best! read more

Very affordable (especially for this area), friendly service, not as fast as I would like, but perfect if you need regular dry cleaning, when costs can really add up. read more

I've been going to this tailor for the 6 years I've lived in this area. He's conveniently around the corner from me and always did a good job, except for one skirt but regardless. Unfortunately, things have changed. I actually came to this site to find another tailor. About 2 months ago, I brought some pants in to be shortened. I went to pick them up and he said he doesn't take credit cards anymore. I've done business there many times but that didn't matter, so I had to use an ATM across the street, the kind that charges an arm and a leg to take your money out of your bank. Today I dropped off another 4 pairs of pants to be shortened, and he now requires you to pay for everything up front. I didn't have the money on me because he didn't used to require that. Fortunately, he let it go, this time, but it's very disappointing to do business with merchants who keep restricting their policies and not based on anything you've done. This inflexibility is what the large corporations/chains do, not small independent owned businesses, which is why I usually patronize only them. Time to find another tailor. read more

This morning I waited outside the door of Cambridge Street Cleaners for 35 minutes in 20F because the owner simply did not show up at 8:30am, when the store is supposed to open. That was frustrating (and frigid!) to say the least. But what made it worse was that when I told the owner I'd been waiting for so long, instead of apologizing to a me, a repeat customer, he told me I was "lucky [he] even showed up." This was highly unprofessional. I will not bring my business back. read more

I've been going to them for years, and not just for dry cleaning. They do very competent tailoring -- I've had jeans and trousers hemmed, waists taken in, and a new lining put in a leather coat. Their service is quick enough for me and I feel no qualms about giving them something that would need a bit of extra care in handling. The owner is very friendly. Great neighborhood place! read more

I've had Vartan do cleaning, hemming and mending for years. He's fantastic, even with very delicate fabrics and dresses. He's also replaced linings in my husband's jackets, and they're still holding up. Cash only, but worth it. read more

Very professional shop. They always have my things ready when they say they will be. Prices are pretty standard - not cheap, but you do get what you pay for. Excellent tailoring services too. My only complaint is that it is cash only, which I always forget and is a bit of a hassle. read more

After doing some research around East Cambridge for a good dry cleaner, I chose to come here after reading the good reviews. I'm glad I chose this place, I've come here now for about a year and have had many things dry cleaned and everything comes out great every time. After I trusted the dry cleaning, I took some things here to be tailored, including a dress for me and a blazer for my boyfriend, and the owner did a great job. The place is a tad bit expensive than other places I've gone to in Boston, but it's not that much more. Since the owner does a great job every time (and is super nice), it's definitely worth it. Also, Cash only! read more

Asked the tailor here is he could sow two buttons on my coat, and he told me he was too busy and to come back in two days. Seriously? It takes 5 minutes to do this. How can you be so busy not to have 5 minutes for this task? read more

I went here because it was close to my company so it was an easy walk on my lunch. I asked Vartan to take in a white cotton , pencil-style, skirt and a cocktail dress that had pockets and a lace overlay. Both items came out great! I was most concerned about the cocktail dress because of the lace but the dress and lace looked like it was never touched! I would definitely go here again for my important or delicate items since he is worth his prices but for basic items, like my pencil skirt, I may go elsewhere. He does do a great job though! read more

I went here because this place is right by my apartment and I needed a bridesmaid dress hemmed for an upcoming wedding. I told the owner (Vartan) that I needed it done by Wednesday afternoon because I was leaving for the out-of-town wedding that evening. Today (Monday), I realized that my flight is actually in the morning on Wednesday so I began to panic and stopped by, ready to beg him to rush it. Turns out, it was already done: hemmed perfectly, steamed, and pressed! I was so relieved and impressed that he had done it ahead of time. Vartan seems like a lovely man who is really proud of the work he does. He charged me $65 for the job, which I thought was steep, but the dress is very delicate silk and has multiple layers, so I went for it and I'm very happy I did. Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for. read more

Read the fine print for street cleaning days or your car gets towed . . .

East Cambridge, home to oh so many dry cleaners and tailors. How does one choose? My roommate recently got some dresses and trousers tailored here, and the owner, Vartan, did a really good job, so I took my bridesmaid dress over there to have it altered. He used to be the tailor for Yolanda's bridal shop in Waltham, but opened his own shop in Cambridge about 15 years ago. He really knows his stuff when it comes to dresses. He's professional, too (his hands only go where the pins go...if you know what I mean) and efficient. Although, he is the only one who does alterations, so it took about a week. He charged $24, which seemed reasonable. I just picked it up, and it fits great. What a score. read more

Out of town looking for a place to clean/press clothes. They were closing (Sat 12 noon) but the owner was gracious and let us drop of our garments. We got there 12:35. Average price. If you're looking for a deal this is not the place! 15 pieces for about $90 bones but the clothes were completed as promised in great condition. A good place if location is a priority. Oh yea, CASH only! read more