About Us

About Us – Montgomery Overall Business History

A Legacy of Excellence Serving Orange County, Dutchess County, Putnam County, Westchester, and Northern NJ, including Sussex and Bergen

The Montgomery Overall business history is rooted in hard work, family values, and an unwavering commitment to service. From humble beginnings in a garage to becoming a trusted name across Orange County, Dutchess County, Putnam County, Westchester, and Northern NJ, including Sussex and Bergen, our story is a testament to the power of perseverance and community.

All Businesses Begin With A Dream…

Pete Zwart has a reputation for his incredible work ethic. Hard work and uncompromising integrity were ingrained by his parents, Nicholas and Elsie, who were immigrants from The Netherlands. Pete’s family legacy exudes the same quality and commitment that you’ll find with Montgomery Overall.

When his father arrived in America he set to work at his uncle’s dairy farm in Westtown. His parents continued farm work until they purchased a Bullville farm of their own in 1936. Pete, the oldest of three children, was six years old. He grew up in an environment where there was always work to be done.

After graduating from Pine Bush High School, Pete continued working on the family farm. He married his wife Marilyn in 1950 and went to work at an assembly line for a sewing machine factory in Middletown.

When the factory closed, Pete worked at Johnson’s Farm Equipment in Gardiner, followed by a job at Park’s Auto Sales in Walden. At every job, Pete was dedicated, hard-working, and consistent. A short time into working at Park’s Auto Sales, Pete’s boss came to him with an exciting opportunity – a job at Mechanic’s Overall Service in Kingston.

Pete’s dedication resulted in a sizable route for the company. Driven to success, he also acquired a number of local side jobs. He would take those jobs to Case Laundry in Newburgh. After parting ways with Mechanic Overall, Pete decided it was time to start his own business. Montgomery Overall Service Inc began in the garage behind his house, with a dream and unmatched determination.

Pete crossed paths with an equipment dealer who set him up with a new boiler, washer, presses, and an air compressor. According to Pete “He carried everything for me financially, and I paid him back what I owed him in full”. It’s incredible what can happen when a vision meets an unwavering work ethic.

Building On The Dream…

As with every successful business, building it requires intense commitment and work. Pete was on the road during the day delivering and washing clothes until the early hours of the morning.

His parents sold the family farm in 1958 and decided to help him out with his business. Pete’s wife and his mother helped deliver on Wednesdays while Pete did the Saturday deliveries. Making it a true family company.

One day a salesman noticed an empty space in Pete’s garage. Pete was doing well, and the salesman convinced him to purchase an $80,000 dry-cleaning machine. When he was asked how he would pay for it, Pete replied in true business owner fashion: “I’ll increase production!”

Pete recalls when the machine arrived and said it was like trying to fit 10 pounds of sugar into a 5-pound bag. Not to be deterred, he tried to get a building permit to expand the garage. The town denied him, so Pete put the dry cleaning on hold until he secured a temporary building.

Sadly, Pete’s father passed away in 1973. Determined to honor his father’s legacy of hard work, he sought to expand the business. Pete borrowed $1,000 from the bank.

He continued growing and quickly paid it back. The bank saw his commitment to hard work and integrity and eventually began loaning his $10,000 at a time! While the size of the garage remained the same, the business was hiring new employees and adding on routes. By 1980 the operation had outgrown the garage. Pete made a deal to purchase the old Toyota dealership building on Homestead Avenue. By 1997, they expanded the space with a 9,000-square-foot addition. From Pete shaking hands with Sonny Johnston in 1980 to buying an old dealership, to today – Montgomery Overall has never lost its sense of family and commitment to quality.

Still a Family…

Montgomery Overall has always been a family business. Pete’s wife Marilyn worked in the front greeting everyone who came into the store. She was an incredible woman who was known for doing everything she could for everyone. Marilyn would sew, monogram, mend, and do alterations for the business until she passed away in 2003.

Pete’s mother, Elsie, who passed away at the age of 101 in 2007, was still putting in a couple of hours a day until she turned 97. Proud to stand beside her son as he lived out his dream.

All of Pete’s eight children have worked for Montgomery Overall. His eldest son, Ed, went on to earn a degree in electrical technology from RIT. Ed now serves as vice president and plant operations manager.

Pete’s son Arnie started running routes with his father at a young age. He serves as vice president and daily operations manager. Arnie’s wife, Gina, is the office administrator. Pete and Marilyn’s youngest son, Brian, joined his parents on a full-time basis as a maintenance mechanic and substitute route driver.

All of Pete’s other children have been involved in the company at some point before pursuing other interests and opportunities. As a father, he passed down both his strong work ethic and his visionary spirit to all of his kids; a legacy that continues to shape the Montgomery Overall business history today.

All of our employees are considered part of the family. Pete attributes the company’s success to the high level of customer service and the family atmosphere that Montgomery Overall has maintained.

Customer Referral Program

Let us thank you with a
credit to your account

If your business has experienced a positive impact from using our products and services, why not refer another growing business to Montgomery Overall Service.

If your referral starts with Montgomery Overall Service within a year, you will receive a credit for the weekly value of those services (up to $50) and the business you refer will receive a $25 credit to their account.