Story & Lesson Highlights with Ken Sandy of DOWNTWON

Ken Sandy shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Ken, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Whats misunderstood abour out business? People think dry cleaning is just about clothes, ITS NOT. Were not a service, were a pulse. A hub. A connector. Every neighborhood dry cleaer is a piece of local infrastructure, holding stories, confidentce and community together one garment at a time.

Thie biggest misconception? That dry cleaing is outdated or harmful. Truth is, we extend the life of your wardrobe and the identiy stitched into it.

We’re where sustainability meets style[- where commuinty meets care. We’re not just cleaning clothes, We’re preserving cuture.

Ken Sandy

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What’s up — I’m Ken Sandy, one of the owners here at Dryy Garment Care.

We don’t just clean clothes — we clean up the game.

Our brand is urban, disruptive, and built for scale. But what really sets us apart is our purpose — we don’t just pull up to press clothes, we pull up for the culture.

We create intersections where community, culture, and commerce collide — because that’s where the magic happens.

I came into this industry with zero operations background — just a PR and marketing mindset — and maybe that’s exactly why Dryy looks, feels, and moves differently. We’re reimagining what a dry cleaner can be… and proving it’s way more than a drop-off.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That I wasn’t enough.

As a kid, I was always vibrant — wildly expressive, magnetic, and full of energy — but underneath that, I carried a quiet disbelief in my own capability. I loved people, I loved energy, but I hadn’t yet learned to love myself in a way that fueled confidence.

Somewhere along the journey, that changed. I stopped shrinking to fit into spaces that didn’t understand me and started building spaces that did. Today, I know — not think, know — that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, as long as I’m aligned with the right people and shared purpose.

That belief is what drives everything I build now — from my business to my community to the culture we’re creating.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
For a long time, I danced with my pain — in and out, forward and back — just enough to survive but never enough to break free. I’d face it, then retreat. Heal a little, then hide again. That rhythm became a cycle I didn’t even realize I was keeping alive.

Then, in my early 40s, I stopped negotiating with fear. I looked it in the face and decided I was done playing small. That moment — that decision — was the pivot.

From there, everything changed. I bet on myself. I built something from nothing. I found real love, real purpose, and a real sense of peace.

If I had one regret — and I don’t dwell on regrets — it’s that I didn’t do it sooner. But then again, maybe timing isn’t about readiness. Maybe it’s about becoming who you need to be to finally stop hiding and start owning your power.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. When the public version of who you are aligns with the private one, you’ve reached a rare level of authenticity and self-awareness. That’s the space I live in.

What you see publicly is who I am privately — transparent, intentional, and consistent. The beauty in that alignment is not just peace of mind, it’s credibility. People can sense when you’re real, and they respect it because it’s so uncommon. I’ve had people tell me, “Ken, you’re the same person now as when you first started,” and that to me is the highest compliment.

Now, that doesn’t mean every day is perfect. I have off days. I have moments where old patterns try to revisit. But I don’t hide that — I own it. I share it with class and intention because vulnerability done right isn’t weakness; it’s power.

So yes — the public version of me is me. Unfiltered. Evolving. Consistent. And that consistency is my quiet superpower.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
It doesn’t have to be grand or polished — it just has to be real.

I hope people say I showed up with genuine intent. That I cared — deeply — about people, about impact, and about using business as a force for good. That I took social responsibility seriously, not as a slogan but as a lifestyle.

I hope they remember that what we built wasn’t just a brand; it was a bridge. Through collaboration, we earned trust — the kind that creates loyalty, but more importantly, grace. So that even in the moments we missed the mark, people still understood the heart behind it.

If there’s one story I’d want told, it’s simple: Ken Sandy was a real one. He cared. He led with purpose. And he left people better than he found them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dryydc.com
• Instagram: dryydc
• Linkedin: Ken Sandy