With the Development of Wonder Wash, Atlas International Ushered in a New Era of Laundromat Design
In 1980, when Atlas International Laundry Equipment Co. was established in Dallas, the typical laundromat equipment mix wasn’t much of a “mix” at all. In fact, most laundries boasted a machine lineup of exclusively toploading washers.
However, Atlas co-founders Avner Wolanow and Charlie Gelfand – two former salesmen for a laundry industry manufacturer – were determined to change the laundry landscape. They viewed Texas as a golden opportunity to introduce a new concept of self-service laundries to a growing market: stores that featured primarily frontloading washers.
Shortly after launching Atlas, Wolanow and Gelfand were able to put their vision of the future to the test, as they began construction on Wonder Wash Laundry, the company’s first laundromat and the first store in north Texas to be fully equipped with frontload machines.
Over the next few decades, Atlas continued to expand its reach within the textile-care industries, eventually developing drycleaning plants and serving the needs of the on-premises laundry market as well.
Through the years, Atlas has owned its own self-service laundries and drycleaning plants, thus providing the company with a unique understanding of laundromat and drycleaning operations, along with the needs of its clients.
In 2014, Ulli Mandelbaum – who joined the company in 1984 as general operations manager for both Atlas and its company stores – assumed full ownership of Atlas, although Wolanow still maintains an active role in the distributorship’s day-to-day operations.
“As one of the last independent, family-owned distributorships in the Texas and Oklahoma markets, Atlas has the ability to operate freely to best serve our customers,” Mandelbaum explained.
And, as the laundry industry in north Texas continues to evolve, Atlas remains one of the most notable independent distributors in the market, having assisted in the development of hundreds of laundromats all across the country.
In fact, Atlas was part of the recent retooling of that very first Wonder Wash Laundry that it originally had built more than 40 years ago – bringing it full circle and delivering yet another modern, state-of-the-art laundromat to today’s extremely competitive market.
“It was a privilege for us to be a part of the new Wonder Wash, as it signifies the endurance and progress of Atlas Laundry over its many years in business,” Mandelbaum said.
As Atlas Laundry continues to grow, the company also has expanded its operations to accommodate the growing needs of its parts and service departments, in addition to its laundry equipment sales division.
And, with nearly 40 years in the laundromat business, Atlas’ Mandelbaum was quick to share his thoughts on what he views as the key to success in the laundry business.
“Location is key!” he noted. “The location will dictate your success. Without sufficient visibility, parking, or demographics to support the business, nothing else will matter. There are many aspects that go into the long-term viability of the store – design, employees, equipment mix, and so on – but if the location cannot support a laundromat, it will fail.
“Take your time to find the right location,” he added. “We have had customers wait up to two years for the ideal location. Especially in a market as competitive of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, entering a saturated marketplace or one that is experiencing gentrification can be detrimental to a new laundry business. There are many ways to enter the laundromat industry, and the more flexible you can be in these options, the quicker an opportunity will emerge.”
