The History of Roscoe
1921
John P. O’Connell & George C. Buik purchase Very Best Laundry at Roscoe & Southport, where they wash customer-owned uniforms
1924
Roscoe adds Uniform Rental to Services
1926
Roscoe begins washing customer-owned rags – one of the earliest recycling initiatives
We move to Harrison St. (Existing Location)
1929
Roscoe adds Shop Towels to rental line
1933
Chicago World’s Fair – Roscoe supplies rental uniforms to the General Motors & Ford Assembly plants as well as fair maintenance & grounds crew
1946
The Buik Family purchases shares from O’Connells
1952
Floor Mats & Dust Mops are added to rental line
1957
Purchase of “Garden” plant
1969
Donald Buik is promoted to president
1973
Donald Buik purchases all shares
1975
Roscoe installs the industry’s first water treatment
1979
Jim Buik (current owner) starts working at Roscoe
1988
Donald Buik is awarded the Community Spirit Award
1991
Jim Buik is promoted to President
1993
Roscoe implements barcoding & automated sorting
1999
Roscoe is awarded the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Award
2000
Jim Buik purchases shares and Donald Buik retires after 56 years with Roscoe
Roscoe’s PACT
2001
Roscoe earns ISO Certification
2003
RF chips are added to both mats & uniforms
2007
Roscoe launches new “Take Pride” branding
2008
Roscoe initiates PRIDE Core Values
2009
Consolidation and modernization of the existing plant
2010
Roscoe is awarded the TRSA Sustainability Innovations Award
2011
Roscoe celebrates 90 years
2012 & 2014
Roscoe becomes Clean Green Certified for our Best Management Practices of water reuse, reclamation and removal and green efforts throughout our plant and outside of the plant. Some of these include the use of T8 fluorescent lights with motion sensors and skylights, the recycling of hangers, cardboard boxes and pallets, the use of linen laundry bags instead of plastic disposable bags and the use of Route Optimization software that reduces mileage and fleet fuel consumption.
2015
New installation of LED lights in production areas helps us reduce kilowatts consumed for lighting by over 40%. LEDs typically use 25-80% less energy and last 3-25 times longer than traditional incandescent, in addition to the countless benefits it provides in worker safety and productivity.
Another way we go green in 2015 is via solid waste reduction by de-watering liquid sludge and additional water recycling.
2016
Roscoe celebrates 95 years
RFID chips are converted to Ultra-High RFID chips so thousands of garments can be scanned at once
Roscoe is awarded the TRSA Sustainability Award and Illinois Sustainability Award
Julia Buik starts working at Roscoe full-time
2017
Installation of new Kannegiesser Sorting System
2018
Roscoe earns TRSA Hygienically Clean Certification and OSHA SHARP Certification (Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program)
2019
Jim Buik serves second term as TRSA Chairman
2021
Roscoe’s 100 year anniversary!