Should I post in Imperial or Deluxe about coin laundry? Does anyone here own one or have owned a coin laundry in the past?
coin laundry
- Thread starter joefuss1984
- Start date
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Modern, since there are few-to-none classics left out there.
I own 2 coin laundries...
I own 2 coin laundries...
haha thanks
One here in Little Rock just closed. A friend of mine said it was terribly outdated and would only accept coins. I was thinking about checking into it. See how much the building rent was, and how much it would be to equip with newer machines etc. I just did not know where to begin. Do you think you could offer some advice?
One here in Little Rock just closed. A friend of mine said it was terribly outdated and would only accept coins. I was thinking about checking into it. See how much the building rent was, and how much it would be to equip with newer machines etc. I just did not know where to begin. Do you think you could offer some advice?
If a laundry closes, it is because there is no business there. The demographics must have changed. For example, when they passed the AZ-style immigration law here in GA back in July, thousands have left the state and many laundries in what used to be highly hispanic areas have closed. So that would be the first thing to check - has something changed in the area. Second, how many other laundries are in the area, and are they busy? If the area is overbuilt for the population, they all lose.
Second, 99% of laundries are still quarter-only based. Americans have not taken to smart card systems, and they are cost prohibitive to install. Only now have some credit/debit card systems have come to market at a more reasonable cost, but they are still on the expensive side. So that argument holds no water.
Third, talk to the landlord and see if he knows why the owner closed doors and left. He might be an unreasonable prick, or is planning to have a family member reopen it.
It might not be outdated. Commercial equipment should last 20+ years, so it just might be neglected. If most of the machines are domestic toploaders with a coin chute, they usually don't last more than 5-10 years. Go peek in the windows and see what you can see.
Second, 99% of laundries are still quarter-only based. Americans have not taken to smart card systems, and they are cost prohibitive to install. Only now have some credit/debit card systems have come to market at a more reasonable cost, but they are still on the expensive side. So that argument holds no water.
Third, talk to the landlord and see if he knows why the owner closed doors and left. He might be an unreasonable prick, or is planning to have a family member reopen it.
It might not be outdated. Commercial equipment should last 20+ years, so it just might be neglected. If most of the machines are domestic toploaders with a coin chute, they usually don't last more than 5-10 years. Go peek in the windows and see what you can see.
Once a laundry, always a laundry. You only have to worry about that for a new store. For an existing store, everything is grandfathered in.
supersurgilator
Well-known member
Peter, do u by chance have any old toploaders or dryers that you kept from your laundries? I would love to ge tmy hands on one of the 80's perf tub SQ's. A laundry here had them until about 10 years ago or so. they were built like a tank.
mrb627
Well-known member
A warm Place...
I don't know why, but I have a soft spot in my heart for coin-op machines. They make the best piggy banks ever!!!
Malcolm
I don't know why, but I have a soft spot in my heart for coin-op machines. They make the best piggy banks ever!!!
Malcolm
whirlcool
Well-known member
I think also that areas that have a lot of apartment buildings nearby would also make for a great location for a coin op.
It seems to me that coin op laundries have been disappearing over the last 20 years. They used to be more common. I only know of one in my area, and it's about a 10 mile drive to get to.
It's run by a Chinese family. They also offer a wash & fold service. They keep it very clean and the guy who works in there can get surly with you if you don't keep the place clean too. If you oversuds your machine, he'll come by and pour some pink liquid from a huge bottle in your washer while yelling at you in Chinese.
It seems to me that coin op laundries have been disappearing over the last 20 years. They used to be more common. I only know of one in my area, and it's about a 10 mile drive to get to.
It's run by a Chinese family. They also offer a wash & fold service. They keep it very clean and the guy who works in there can get surly with you if you don't keep the place clean too. If you oversuds your machine, he'll come by and pour some pink liquid from a huge bottle in your washer while yelling at you in Chinese.
apartments
There are quite a few apartment buildings nearby. Most of them older and without laundry hook ups in the apartment. I need to drive around looking for the next closest laundry mat.
There are quite a few apartment buildings nearby. Most of them older and without laundry hook ups in the apartment. I need to drive around looking for the next closest laundry mat.
The only washers I have are 6 GE single speed Filter Flo machines from 1994 when the store was installed. Man, they are water hogs! I replaced them in 2006 with Newton Maytags just before WP bought them.
The best demographic for coin laundries are lower income, multi family housing areas. Ethnic neighborhoods and urban areas are best.
