A Look at Seven of the Most Interesting Laundromats in America
Going to the laundromat to do the week’s laundry can be a rather dull and tedious chore. No doubt about it.
Then again, who says laundromats can’t be cool and fun?
Across the U.S., creative store owners are changing the face of their facilities, as well as the reputation of the vended laundry industry. These operators have upped the ante through the use of unique, high-end building and design materials; high-tech laundry equipment and payment options; and a slew of fun, tasty and entertaining offerings for their customers.
Below, we’ve rounded up an eclectic group of some of the coolest, most interesting laundromats in the country. Above all, each of these laundromats has cultivated a character, personality and distinct atmosphere all its own.
Perfect Wash – Express Laundry Center
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Perfect Wash – Express Laundry Center was designed to be an inviting self-service laundromat where customers felt like they “were somewhere.” I wanted to give my middle-class and tourist clientele a high-quality store that was well-built and luxurious compared to the alternatives – from granite countertops and quartz epoxy flooring to tubular skylights that let in natural light and state-of-the-art machines and technology.
I envisioned an “outdoor-ish” feel to provide a sense of spaciousness to the 1,755-square-foot space. I’ve always appreciated the look and strength of a corrugated metal wall in laundromats, so I spent some time selecting just the right pattern to give the store “a touch of industrial.”
The drop-off area is wrapped in a laminate wood flooring, which makes it appear somewhat like a beach shack. The textured red floor almost evokes the look and feeling of sand, while the dark, gray-blue open ceiling kindles thoughts of the sky at dusk – so customers feel almost as if they’re walking outside. To top it off, the front door faces the ocean just blocks away, thus completing the overall vibe of the laundromat with an actual ocean breeze. I believe these natural touches contribute to a looser, more casual feeling our customers appreciate.
Our attendants are encouraged to socialize with our customers (while still being productive, of course) – after all, they’re not robots. Several relationships have been built here over the years. We’ve watched babies grow into children and have had the opportunity to share in a number of life events with our customers. The store is a great foundation to the relationship we’ve built as a member of this community.
Personally, I enjoy the times when I get to put down my tasks and mingle with the customers. Being located in a resort town, we get visitors from all over the world who come to Perfect Wash. And it’s a damn good feeling to hear someone tell you that you own the nicest laundromat they have ever visited… in the world! Sometimes, that’s all I need to get through the day. And, believe me, I don’t take that for granted.
– Daniel Sofranko
Capitol Quick Wash,
Milwaukee, Wis.
We just built this new location and definitely wanted to step up the “cool factor.” We incorporated some of the latest trends in design and chose to go for an industrial look and feel.
Some of the key design elements include using multiple wall textures, such as exposed brick, reclaimed wood and tile. The laundromat also features polished concrete flooring, an open ceiling and large stainless spiral ductwork for the HVAC supply.
I also added a few ’80s-era skateboards and even had a chair created from skateboards for this store. It’s my personal touch, which reminds me of my younger days when all I did was skate. These days, it’s just kind of cool to look at.
We have Atmosphere TV, so we’re constantly streaming X Games footage, which really plays well with our overall theme. I also decided to install a sound system that’s admittedly a bit of overkill. During the weekdays, we play R&B hits from the 1970s through the ’90s. And, at night and on the weekends, it’s not uncommon to hear hip hop from the ’80s through today, with all clean lyrics, of course. We may play that music a bit louder than most places would dare, but it’s all part of the atmosphere here.
I love going to restaurants that not only have great food, but also feel cool inside. I find myself looking around at all of the design elements. When I go out to eat, I’m drawn to those places. I just feel better there, and I want to be there.
So I thought: Would laundry customers have that same feeling? Would they appreciate a place that looked awesome? If they went to a laundromat with an industrial yet high-end feel, would they be drawn to it like I am?
It turns out they are. We’ve been open a few months, and the response has been tremendous. The support from the neighborhood has been huge. Customers are drawn to the overall look and feel of the business. They appreciate it, and they feel better about themselves while they’re here.
I love seeing people’s first responses when they walk through the door. They love the look, and when they see the technology within our equipment, they’re blown away. Touchscreens with quarter drops, dollar drops, credit card acceptance – and they can use an app with loyalty rewards. They’re just floored.
Plus, the skateboards are cool! We can’t forget that!
– Jason Dodge
The Laundry Café
Philadelphia
The Laundry Café was established in 2012 with one super-sized laundromat in Philadelphia. We now have five locations, and our mission remains focused on the challenges that plague dense, underserved communities of the inner city.
The five pillars of our mission include:
- Childhood literacy
- Financial literacy in unbanked communities
- Healthcare disparities
- Digital dividend access
- Voter apathy
We’re fortunate to serve multi-cultural communities of every background and ethnicity.
We believe that underserved communities desire – and deserve – a high-quality laundry experience. Our decor is decidedly upscale. We start with high-quality finishes and a safe, clean environment. However, we truly pride ourselves on how we treat our customers with courtesy, dignity and respect.
Customers often comment about our decor or our size, but we get equally as many comments about our LaundryCares Family Read, Play & Learn Center, as well as the free programs we offer the community – including financial literacy, stroke prevention, breast cancer awareness and free laundry days.
We believe that, because we foster real customer relationships, we’re privileged to receive the unvarnished truth from those who deserve better than they generally receive. Addressing these “challenges” is what helps us earn the respect of the communities we serve.
The commitment to treat people with dignity and respect by listening and addressing challenges also is a point of competitive distinction for us. And sometimes the greatest customer compliment comes in the form of a simple “Philly head nod” that says “Good job, thanks.”
Both of my business partners – Tyrone Akins and Ray Chamberlain – and I previously had careers in pharmaceutical marketing and/or sales. Although the medications we produced surely had a positive impact on people’s lives, we rarely saw the impact of our personal efforts on individuals. At The Laundry Café and with our brand of vended laundry, we can witness direct, meaningful impact on individual lives, families and communities.
We proudly serve communities – with real people, who have first names… and very real needs. This is worthy work, and there is plenty to do. We are all privileged for the opportunity.
– Brian Holland
Super Suds
New Orleans
Our laundromat has always been called Super Suds, but there was never any real theme to the store. Then, one day, our 5-year-old grandson, Stryder, blurted out, “Why don’t you put Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman on the walls?”
We thought, “Why not?” A laundromat called Super Suds should have some superheroes hanging around. And that’s how our unique look came about.
During the design reboot, our customers enjoyed watching local and world-renowned body artist Angela Rene Roberts as she sketched, painted and brought all of our favorite comic book heroes to life on the walls of Super Suds.
In addition, within our superhero theme, we were sure to add some local flavor. For example, Flash is carrying a seafood po’boy and a box of chicken, while the Hulk is depicted in the Louisiana swamp. In addition, the Penguin can be seen driving a New Orleans streetcar, Poison Ivy is shown in a bed of magnolias, and Catwoman is wrapped around a streetlamp in the French Quarter. What’s more, the store’s walls pay homage to several famous local structures, including the Superdome, which is emitting the famous Bat Signal.
Our customers regularly tell us we’ve created a positive, cheerful and uniquely fun atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. And, down the road, we plan to add Aquaman, Thor and a few more super villains as well. So, stay tuned…
– Joey Domingue
Washboard Café
Willard, Mo.
After spending years working on various oil pipelines across the U.S., my husband, Michael, and I decided to implement everything we had learned from using laundromats all around the country throughout the years. We wanted to build an upscale laundromat that could be “experienced” from the moment the customer walks in.
For us, laundry day was never a relaxing experience. Plus, as coffee lovers, we knew that the best way for us to relax was to sit back and enjoy one of our favorite coffee drinks. This is how the concept for the Washboard Café came to life.
The Washboard is one of the most sustainable and technologically advanced laundromats in the U.S. Walking in, customers are immediately surrounded by fast, energy-efficient washers and dryers offering the flexibility to customize cycles and the ability to complete their laundry chores in about an hour.
The laundromat is open seven days a week and is fully attended. It features touchscreen controls, the ability to pay through an app, a rewards program for frequent customers and wash-dry-fold services.
While they wait, customers can purchase a freshly made doughnut and a signature latte in the store’s coffee shop. And they can kick up their feet and relax in one of our comfortable indoor or outdoor seating areas.
Our love of coffee spills over into the laundromat’s décor. Burlap coffee bags from around the world – along with hand-painted signs, antique washboards and a copper washtub – top off the look and feel of the ultimate coffee/laundromat experience.
Our customers rave about the atmosphere – the high-tech laundry equipment, the flexibility to pay with a mobile app… and, of course, our now-famous coffee and doughnuts.
We love the community aspect that comes with this business. The Washboard has become a local hangout for people of all ages, and to see the town coming to support our dream has been truly amazing.
– Josie Wodtke
Laundry 101
Kent, Ohio
Laundry 101 opened in 1994 and has continuously operated as a laundromat that uniquely serves draft and bottled beer, wine coolers, soft drinks and snacks in a comfortable cafe/bar-styled area, nestled within the 3,600-square-foot facility.
The store is located within walking distance of Kent State University’s main campus, which boasts more than 2,500 faculty and staff, along with 26,000 students.
When we purchased Laundry 101 from its original owner, he explained that he made the deliberate choice to run a laundromat that offers bar-style services as an amenity, rather than vice versa. That perspective – being a laundromat first and a bar second – has been invaluable as we’ve grown into the business. Although one of the store’s six owners (Laundrobar, LLC) has a degree in hospitality from Kent State and a decent handle on the nuances of running a bar, none of us had any experience operating a laundromat.
During the pandemic lockdown, we took advantage of the reduced demand on our machines to install a touchless payment option and to further accommodate the smartphone “needs” of our student customers, who make up a larger portion of our client base.
In addition, the impact of the pandemic on retail and other service industries spurred us to look further into ways to grow the laundry business, including adding a pickup-and-delivery component to our already existing wash-dry-fold service. Our ability to offer pickup and delivery to the remotest areas of our two-county territory via a touch of a smartphone icon has been a true paradigm shift for our business.
We are the only “laundrobar” in our market. Our customers can do their laundry, study, grab a bite to eat, have a beer from one of our eight taps or from our cooler containing several canned and bottled offerings, and even shoot a game of pool while they wait. Or, if they would rather not leave the cozy confines of their homes or dorm rooms, they can schedule a laundry pickup.
Being located near a college campus, we hear an endless stream of positive comments from first-timers – everything from “wow, you have a bar in here!” to “that is so cool!” We’ve also developed a group of regulars who like to occupy their favorite tables, sip their preferred brands and watch one of our big-screen TVs – while waiting for their laundry to wash and dry, of course.
– Gary Gardner
Melba’s Wash World
New Orleans
Melba’s Wash World is a laundromat/restaurant situated within “the heartbeat” of New Orleans – where the historic 7th, 8th and 9th wards meet, just three minutes from the famed French Quarter.
I like to say that Wash World is one laundromat you want to visit, even if you have a working washer and dryer at home. And, if you’re just visiting our city, you want to stop in to feel how this business is something more than just a business.
Of course, we feature all the typical elements that constitute a successful laundromat – quality equipment, convenient hours, a helpful staff and wash-dry-fold services.
So, what makes us different? What makes us cool?
First of all, we’ve turned our machines into teaching tools. Each machine includes of photo and a brief bio of a famous community leader or historical figure from New Orleans. In addition, we’ve included QR codes on the machines, which lead directly to each featured individual’s website. Each machine provides a local history lesson.
And the customer education doesn’t stop there. The direction of Melba’s Wash World is focused on cleaning clothes – and literacy. In fact, the business regularly invites renowned authors, such as Colson Whitehead and Professor Jonathan Walters, for readings and book signings. To date, we’ve hosted more than 75 authors and given away about 8,500 books to our customers.
Wash World also encourages childhood literacy through its LaundryCares Family Read, Play & Learn Center. The LaundryCares Foundation helped open my eyes to the power of our actions in regard to tackling illiteracy in our city. We opened the literacy space three years ago, and it’s been nothing short of extraordinary. I see children with a pep in their step running toward our reading nook.
Of course, being in New Orleans, you can’t get away from the music or the food. And we offer both.
We have paintings of legendary musicians on our walls, music playing all day throughout the store, and we’ve even had free CD giveaways. Music is just in the air in New Orleans.
For the food, we have our adjacent restaurant, Melba’s – which actually has been open longer than the laundromat and serves home-cooked food to 30,000 people daily. We offer up everything from red beans and rice to stuffed bell peppers to BBQ ribs to our famous po’boys.
What’s the coolest thing about our laundromat? When you walk into Melba’s Wash World, you can feel what we’re doing, other than washing and drying clothes.
When you walk into a business today, customers should be able to feel what you’re doing, beyond the business. Business is not just about profit and loss. You affect people every day as a businessperson, and you should do more than just make money. Every business should build upon that one thing it can do to impact its community in a positive way.
– Jane Wolfe
[Do you have a cool, interesting or unique laundromat? Let us know about it by emailing [email protected]. We’d love to share your creativity and inspiration with our readers.]
