When customers walk in Kelley’s Village Cleaners in downtown Newton, Gene and Jeff Kelley are quick to offer a smile and a friendly “hello.”

The father and son pair has been running the dry-cleaning business together since January 1996.

It’s a pairing they say has worked out well for both of them, and the business continues to do well.

Gene bought the business in September 1994 from his son-in-law’s father, Edward McEntire, who ran the business as Village Cleaners. After eight years as district manager for a chain of dry cleaners in Virginia and traveling from one hotel to the next, he decided it was time to go into business for himself.

“It was sort of scary, because I didn’t have a guaranteed paycheck. Nothing was guaranteed,” said Gene.

During his first week of business, he recalls making $1,288. From there, it was a matter of building up a customer base and getting steady business, so he could afford to pay someone to help him. Gene ran the business by himself for the first year before he asked his son if he could move to Newton and help out.

Jeff got married the same month his father bought the business, so he had to ask his wife about moving from Tennessee to Newton. He said she was open to the idea, and the rest is history.

“I didn’t think I’d ever leave east Tennessee,” Jeff said. “I love the mountains, but after 13 years in Newton, I can’t imagine leaving. Now, this is home.”

He also knew helping his dad with the business would be a lot of hard work.

“It was tough at first, because it was just me and dad, and we worked long hours,” Jeff said.

Gene would get to work about 5 a.m., and Jeff would come in a few hours later and work a 12-to-14-hour day.

When he worked in Virginia, Gene said he knew several fathers who worked with their sons and it didn’t work out well.

“They told me it couldn’t be done,” he said.

But he said working with his son Jeff has worked out well.

“We just got it right,” he said.

Gene and Jeff spend a lot of time together, during and after work. They eat lunch together every day with a group of local business people in Newton, and they like to take vacations together, especially to the beach.

Jeff said they rarely quarrel, and when they do, they always manage to work out their differences.

“The big thing is not to sweat the small stuff,” he said. “I little things aren’t worth losing your mind over.”

The good thing about working together is that there is always at least one of them there to greet customers and address any questions they may have, Gene said.

And Gene and Jeff are always there to help each other out. Working together, the business has grown to include five full-time employees, lots of regular customers and a building with wall-to-wall clothes. They’ve also made a lot of good friends, Gene said.

Now, Jeff’s own daughter, 12-year-old Parker, has taken an interest in the business. She helps out by tagging clothes, answering the phone, sorting hangers and doing some minor paperwork to help keep track of customers.

“It’s a good opportunity to teach them a good work ethic and learn the business,” Jeff said. “I’m thinking this will make good memories for us.”

Jeff said one thing he’s learned about working with his father is, “when the boss is your dad, you have to work harder,” he said jokingly.

And he’ll be taking over the business for his dad within the next year, said Gene, who is looking forward to retirement “soon.”

“I feel good about it. I don’t have a worry in the world,” he said of Jeff taking over the business.

In the meantime, the father and son duo appreciate the time they spend together every day.

“Working with your dad is just a great experience, and I really enjoy the opportunity,” Jeff said.