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Going to the laundromat to do the week\u2019s laundry can be a rather dull and tedious chore. No doubt about it.<\/p>\n
Then again, who says laundromats can\u2019t be cool and fun?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Below, we\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
Perfect Wash \u2013 Express Laundry Center<\/strong> Perfect Wash \u2013 Express Laundry Center was designed to be an inviting self-service laundromat where customers felt like they \u201cwere somewhere.\u201d I wanted to give my middle-class and tourist clientele a high-quality store that was well-built and luxurious compared to the alternatives \u2013 from granite countertops and quartz epoxy flooring to tubular skylights that let in natural light and state-of-the-art machines and technology.<\/p>\n I envisioned an \u201coutdoor-ish\u201d feel to provide a sense of spaciousness to the 1,755-square-foot space. I\u2019ve 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 \u201ca touch of industrial.\u201d<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 so customers feel almost as if they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n Our attendants are encouraged to socialize with our customers (while still being productive, of course) \u2013 after all, they\u2019re not robots. Several relationships have been built here over the years. We\u2019ve 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\u2019ve built as a member of this community.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s a damn good feeling to hear someone tell you that you own the nicest laundromat they have ever visited\u2026 in the world! Sometimes, that\u2019s all I need to get through the day. And, believe me, I don\u2019t take that for granted. Capitol Quick Wash,<\/strong> We just built this new location and definitely wanted to step up the \u201ccool factor.\u201d We incorporated some of the latest trends in design and chose to go for an industrial look and feel.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n I also added a few \u201980s-era skateboards and even had a chair created from skateboards for this store. It\u2019s my personal touch, which reminds me of my younger days when all I did was skate. These days, it\u2019s just kind of cool to look at.<\/p>\n We have Atmosphere TV, so we\u2019re constantly streaming X Games footage, which really plays well with our overall theme. I also decided to install a sound system that\u2019s admittedly a bit of overkill. During the weekdays, we play R&B hits from the 1970s through the \u201990s. And, at night and on the weekends, it\u2019s not uncommon to hear hip hop from the \u201980s through today, with all clean lyrics, of course. We may play that music a bit louder than most places would dare, but it\u2019s all part of the atmosphere here.<\/p>\n 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\u2019m drawn to those places. I just feel better there, and I want to be there.<\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n It turns out they are. We\u2019ve 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\u2019re here.<\/p>\n I love seeing people\u2019s first responses when they walk through the door. They love the look, and when they see the technology within our equipment, they\u2019re blown away. Touchscreens with quarter drops, dollar drops, credit card acceptance \u2013 and they can use an app with loyalty rewards. They\u2019re just floored.<\/p>\n Plus, the skateboards are cool! We can\u2019t forget that! The Laundry Caf\u00e9<\/strong> The Laundry Caf\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n The five pillars of our mission include:<\/p>\n We\u2019re fortunate to serve multi-cultural communities of every background and ethnicity.<\/p>\n We believe that underserved communities desire \u2013 and deserve \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 including financial literacy, stroke prevention, breast cancer awareness and free laundry days.<\/p>\n We believe that, because we foster real customer relationships, we\u2019re privileged to receive the unvarnished truth from those who deserve better than they generally receive. Addressing these \u201cchallenges\u201d is what helps us earn the respect of the communities we serve.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cPhilly head nod\u201d that says \u201cGood job, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Both of my business partners \u2013 Tyrone Akins and Ray Chamberlain \u2013 and I previously had careers in pharmaceutical marketing and\/or sales. Although the medications we produced surely had a positive impact on people\u2019s lives, we rarely saw the impact of our personal efforts on individuals. At The Laundry Caf\u00e9 and with our brand of vended laundry, we can witness direct, meaningful impact on individual lives, families and communities.<\/p>\n We proudly serve communities \u2013 with real people, who have first names\u2026 and very real needs. This is worthy work, and there is plenty to do. We are all privileged for the opportunity. Super Suds<\/strong> 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, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you put Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman on the walls?\u201d<\/p>\n We thought, \u201cWhy not?\u201d A laundromat called Super Suds should have some superheroes hanging around. And that\u2019s how our unique look came about.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In addition, within our superhero theme, we were sure to add some local flavor. For example, Flash is carrying a seafood po\u2019boy 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\u2019s more, the store\u2019s walls pay homage to several famous local structures, including the Superdome, which is emitting the famous Bat Signal.<\/p>\n Our customers regularly tell us we\u2019ve 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\u2026 Washboard Caf\u00e9<\/strong> 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 \u201cexperienced\u201d from the moment the customer walks in.<\/p>\n 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 Caf\u00e9 came to life.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n While they wait, customers can purchase a freshly made doughnut and a signature latte in the store\u2019s coffee shop. And they can kick up their feet and relax in one of our comfortable indoor or outdoor seating areas.<\/p>\n Our love of coffee spills over into the laundromat\u2019s d\u00e9cor. Burlap coffee bags from around the world \u2013 along with hand-painted signs, antique washboards and a copper washtub \u2013 top off the look and feel of the ultimate coffee\/laundromat experience.<\/p>\n Our customers rave about the atmosphere \u2013 the high-tech laundry equipment, the flexibility to pay with a mobile app\u2026 and, of course, our now-famous coffee and doughnuts.<\/p>\n 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. Laundry 101<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n The store is located within walking distance of Kent State University\u2019s main campus, which boasts more than 2,500 faculty and staff, along with 26,000 students.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 being a laundromat first and a bar second \u2013 has been invaluable as we\u2019ve grown into the business. Although one of the store\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cneeds\u201d of our student customers, who make up a larger portion of our client base.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n We are the only \u201claundrobar\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Being located near a college campus, we hear an endless stream of positive comments from first-timers \u2013 everything from \u201cwow, you have a bar in here!\u201d to \u201cthat is so cool!\u201d We\u2019ve 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 \u2013 while waiting for their laundry to wash and dry, of course. Melba\u2019s Wash World<\/strong> Melba\u2019s Wash World is a laundromat\/restaurant situated within \u201cthe heartbeat\u201d of New Orleans \u2013 where the historic 7th, 8th and 9th wards meet, just three minutes from the famed French Quarter.<\/p>\n 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\u2019re just visiting our city, you want to stop in to feel how this business is something more than just a business.<\/p>\n Of course, we feature all the typical elements that constitute a successful laundromat \u2013 quality equipment, convenient hours, a helpful staff and wash-dry-fold services.<\/p>\n So, what makes us different? What makes us cool?<\/p>\n First of all, we\u2019ve 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\u2019ve included QR codes on the machines, which lead directly to each featured individual\u2019s website. Each machine provides a local history lesson.<\/p>\n And the customer education doesn\u2019t stop there. The direction of Melba\u2019s Wash World is focused on cleaning clothes \u2013 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\u2019ve hosted more than 75 authors and given away about 8,500 books to our customers.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s been nothing short of extraordinary. I see children with a pep in their step running toward our reading nook.<\/p>\n Of course, being in New Orleans, you can\u2019t get away from the music or the food. And we offer both.<\/p>\n We have paintings of legendary musicians on our walls, music playing all day throughout the store, and we\u2019ve even had free CD giveaways. Music is just in the air in New Orleans.<\/p>\n For the food, we have our adjacent restaurant, Melba\u2019s \u2013 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\u2019boys.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the coolest thing about our laundromat? When you walk into Melba\u2019s Wash World, you can feel what we\u2019re doing, other than washing and drying clothes.<\/p>\n When you walk into a business today, customers should be able to feel what you\u2019re 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. [Do you have a cool, interesting or unique laundromat? Let us know about it by emailing bob@planetlaundry.com<\/a>. We\u2019d love to share your creativity and inspiration with our readers.]<\/strong><\/em>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column] A Look at Seven of the Most Interesting Laundromats in America Going to the laundromat to do the week\u2019s laundry can be a rather dull and tedious chore. No doubt about it. Then again, who says laundromats can\u2019t be cool and fun? Across the U.S., creative store owners are changing the face of their facilities, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1230,"featured_media":10473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
\nHuntington Beach, Calif.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Daniel Sofranko<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMilwaukee, Wis.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Jason Dodge<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nPhiladelphia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n\u2013 Brian Holland<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nNew Orleans<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Joey Domingue<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWillard, Mo.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Josie Wodtke<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nKent, Ohio<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Gary Gardner<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nNew Orleans<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Jane Wolfe<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\n\t\t[\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Look at Seven of the Most Interesting Laundromats in America<\/h2>\r\nGoing to the laundromat to do the week\u2019s laundry can be a rather dull and tedious chore. No doubt about it.\r\n\r\nThen again, who says laundromats can\u2019t be cool and fun?\r\n\r\nAcross 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.\r\n\r\nBelow, we\u2019ve 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.\r\n\r\nPerfect Wash \u2013 Express Laundry Center<\/strong>\r\nHuntington Beach, Calif.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nPerfect Wash \u2013 Express Laundry Center was designed to be an inviting self-service laundromat where customers felt like they \u201cwere somewhere.\u201d I wanted to give my middle-class and tourist clientele a high-quality store that was well-built and luxurious compared to the alternatives \u2013 from granite countertops and quartz epoxy flooring to tubular skylights that let in natural light and state-of-the-art machines and technology.\r\n\r\nI envisioned an \u201coutdoor-ish\u201d feel to provide a sense of spaciousness to the 1,755-square-foot space. I\u2019ve 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 \u201ca touch of industrial.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe 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 \u2013 so customers feel almost as if they\u2019re 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.\r\n\r\nOur attendants are encouraged to socialize with our customers (while still being productive, of course) \u2013 after all, they\u2019re not robots. Several relationships have been built here over the years. We\u2019ve 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\u2019ve built as a member of this community.\r\n\r\nPersonally, 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\u2019s a damn good feeling to hear someone tell you that you own the nicest laundromat they have ever visited\u2026 in the world! Sometimes, that\u2019s all I need to get through the day. And, believe me, I don\u2019t take that for granted.\r\n\u2013 Daniel Sofranko<\/strong>\r\n\r\nCapitol Quick Wash,<\/strong>\r\nMilwaukee, Wis.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWe just built this new location and definitely wanted to step up the \u201ccool factor.\u201d We incorporated some of the latest trends in design and chose to go for an industrial look and feel.\r\n\r\nSome 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.\r\n\r\nI also added a few \u201980s-era skateboards and even had a chair created from skateboards for this store. It\u2019s my personal touch, which reminds me of my younger days when all I did was skate. These days, it\u2019s just kind of cool to look at.\r\n\r\nWe have Atmosphere TV, so we\u2019re constantly streaming X Games footage, which really plays well with our overall theme. I also decided to install a sound system that\u2019s admittedly a bit of overkill. During the weekdays, we play R&B hits from the 1970s through the \u201990s. And, at night and on the weekends, it\u2019s not uncommon to hear hip hop from the \u201980s through today, with all clean lyrics, of course. We may play that music a bit louder than most places would dare, but it\u2019s all part of the atmosphere here.\r\n\r\nI 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\u2019m drawn to those places. I just feel better there, and I want to be there.\r\n\r\nSo 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?\r\n\r\nIt turns out they are. We\u2019ve 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\u2019re here.\r\n\r\nI love seeing people\u2019s first responses when they walk through the door. They love the look, and when they see the technology within our equipment, they\u2019re blown away. Touchscreens with quarter drops, dollar drops, credit card acceptance \u2013 and they can use an app with loyalty rewards. They\u2019re just floored.\r\n\r\nPlus, the skateboards are cool! We can\u2019t forget that!\r\n\u2013 Jason Dodge<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe Laundry Caf\u00e9<\/strong>\r\nPhiladelphia<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe Laundry Caf\u00e9 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.\r\n\r\nThe five pillars of our mission include:\r\n
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