Latest news with #laundromat
Fox News
2 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Load the laundry, grab a beer: Inside America's laundromat bars
Laundromats offering food, drinks and entertainment might be having a moment in New York City — but in other parts of the country, they have loads of experience with making a mundane chore fun. (See the video at the top of this article.) Several "laundrobars" have popped up across Brooklyn in the last two years, gaining attention for "reimagining" the business as neighborhood hangouts, according to a recent report in The New York Times. But similar suds shops have been tumbling along for decades, from Oregon to Ohio and Nevada to Oklahoma. Duds n' Suds in Reno, Nevada, for example, started serving up beer, wine, snacks and slot machines in the early 1980s as part of a larger franchise. It even got a shout-out in a 2021 episode of "Family Guy." Jimmie May and his wife, Brandy Johnson, took over Duds n' Suds in 2019. "We offer a little extra for people to make it less drudgery," May told Fox News Digital. He said his favorite part is seeing men sent by their wives and expecting a typical laundromat. "Then they turn around and they see the bar and they go, 'Wait, you've got beer?'" May said. "So we'll get them a beer and a Nathan's hot dog or nachos, and then the next week, they're back, like, 'I'm doing the laundry from now on.'" But it's not all fun and games. After over 30 years, the lease for Duds n' Suds is still $9,000. "That's a lot of laundry that has to happen," May said. At Spin Laundry Lounge in Portland, Oregon, Morgan Gary and Anthony Fusaro know a bit about the moving parts it takes to stay in business. "Spin was inspired by my experiences at laundromats and the areas that I wasn't particularly thrilled about," said Gary. She opened the first Spin location in 2014 with her now-husband, who proposed to her at Spin during its opening weekend. "We wanted it to feel more like a cozy café space than a laundromat and really have just the little touches that would make you feel at home," Gary told Fox News Digital. The business grew faster than she imagined, catching on among locals and even travelers passing through. "The food and drink element is so important," Gary said. "That is what put us on the map." Arcade games and pinball machines can be played on the mezzanine overlooking the laundromat, which was once a metal factory. Gary and Fusaro ran the laundromat and the café for seven years, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, they paused food and drink. Earlier this year, they partnered with Brave Neighbor Coffeehouse to bring it back. Running both sides of the business was a challenge, Gary said, and the partnership has allowed them to focus on offering the best possible laundry experience – and giving back to the community. Spin works with nonprofits to offer vouchers for free laundry. It also hosts concerts and "wash parties" where people learn how to care for certain garments – like raincoats, a necessity in the damp city. Gary's favorite thing about Spin is collecting and washing the dozens of single socks that get left behind each day and donating them to shelters. For more Lifestyle articles, visit "It's our little way of being able to give them something useful that might just go in the trash otherwise," she said. Going forward, they hope to host more events and eventually expand their delivery service. Gary said she has enjoyed seeing similar businesses follow in their footsteps. "When we opened all those years ago, there had been a few before us, but it was a fairly new concept," she said. "It's just so great to see, because everyone has to do laundry and there can be a better way – and everyone should be able to enjoy the time."
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Police respond to an alleged armed man inside a Koreatown laundromat
Los Angeles Police Department officers are responding to a call of a man with an alleged gun inside a Koreatown laundromat. Police said they were called at 5:40 a.m. to the Koreatown laundry business on W. 3rd Street and S. Catalina Avenue. The caller reported a man with a gun. Around 7:10 a.m., aerial footage showed police officers, with guns drawn, outside the strip mall business. The situation is ongoing.
RNZ News
18-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
More than a dozen fire trucks battle Henderson laundromat fire
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Fire and Emergency crews are fighting a large fire at a West Auckland laundromat. Crews were called just after 9pm on Friday to the scene near Henderson Valley Road, Henderson. More than a dozen fire trucks, including ladder trucks and specialist vehicles have responded, as crews work to extinguish the blaze. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The National
11-07-2025
- The National
Splurging on food, morning arrivals and other hacks that transformed the way I travel
What does it mean to be well travelled? Is it about viewing each city like a military planner, as a place to be conquered by ticking off every landmark at high speed? Or is it about sticking to the tried-and-tested sights, just to avoid FOMO after returning home? As someone who travels regularly for work and pleasure, I've come to see these journeys as education and escape. To glean the best of both, I've picked up habits from experience and fellow travellers. Some are common sense, but they're easy to overlook in the rush and excitement of planning a summer adventure. I've found they provide enough structure and spontaneity to make each trip memorable. 1. Pre-ironing hack One of the best tips I've gained from living in the UAE – and this probably applies to most people in the region – is what I call the pre-ironing hack. Here's how it works: take your travel clothes to your local laundromat and tell them you're going on a trip. 'I'm travelling' acts as a kind of code to the staff. After the washing and ironing they'll often fold everything neatly, separate your shirts, trousers and socks, and pack them in plastic sheets ready for your suitcase. This is normally done at no extra cost. 2. Have a loose plan My most memorable trips have had plans that were intentionally loose. I usually choose a couple of things I absolutely want to do – such as visiting the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris or the famous Hansa recording studios in Berlin when I'm visiting those cities. But the rest of the itinerary is intentionally left open. That allows for surprise: a wrong turn that leads me to an unexpected gem of a neighbourhood, or stumbling across a gallery or cafe that wasn't on any list. The joy comes from not crossing things off, but allowing each day to unfold. 3. Time your arrival First impressions count, especially when arriving in a new city. A rule I've been trying to follow over the years is to avoid landing in the middle of the night. It just sets the wrong tone. I remember arriving in Tbilisi at 3am. It was cold and raining. The streets seemed deserted, the buildings loomed menacingly and there was an ominous energy that hung in the air. It took me a full day to shake off that feeling which, of course, had more to do with me than the beautiful city itself. Now, if I can help it, I arrive in the morning. I love seeing people on their way to work, the morning traffic and the general freshness of a city on the cusp of a new day. It gives you a better read on the place and a first glimpse of a city moving to its own rhythm. 4. Read a book set in the city Something I've been trying to do more of, especially when I'm in a city for more than a few days, is to read a novel set in that place. In Istanbul, I was reading Orhan Pamuk 's My Name is Red, while in Stockholm it was the Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy of thrillers. The stories may be fictional or outlandish, but they offer a distinctive feeling for the place that you can't find in any guidebook, through the use of real locations and landmarks, that stays with you long after you leave. 5. Use the right translation apps Mobile translation apps have developed to such an extent that they are essential travel companions. On a recent trip to Shenzhen, the image translation feature that is standard on most phones was helpful for navigating Mandarin – just point your camera and the entire page appears in English. The real surprise, however, is how these tools can spark connection. I've had full conversations using the translation feature where we would speak on the phone and it translates into our respective languages. There's laughter, curiosity and mild frustration – especially when haggling in a market. At the same time, it's worth knowing which apps don't work in particular destinations. In China, for instance, WhatsApp, Google and even Apple Pay can be unreliable or entirely blocked. Research local alternatives in advance, such as the brilliantly functional Alipay and Didi – the latter a ride share platform widely used in mainland China. 6. Research eSIMs in advance Your phone in 2025 has become your translator, guidebook and wallet. Hence, the need for good amount of data. Do your homework on which eSIM packages to acquire, ideally before you take off. Look for packages with the right balance of reliable local speeds, enough data and, ideally, coverage in multiple destinations. 7. Stay just outside the centre The closer you are to the centre, the less likely you are to experience the pulse of a city. If you have the time to stay just outside it – ideally in a residential area – you gain a more natural, calmer and most likely a cheaper experience of the place. In Copenhagen, I stayed in Norrebro, a neighbourhood just outside the centre. It was lovely. Families used the parks, people cycled with their children and there was a genuine calmness to the streets. I felt slightly less like a visitor and more like a local. 8. Ask taxi drivers where to eat A universal rule of travel is that cab drivers are among the best culinary guides. They know where locals go, what's open late and what's worth the detour. Some of my best meals started with a query from the back seat of a cab about the best place to try a local delicacy. Chances are it is a joint off the beaten track, without English menus or press coverage. Trust cabbies more than the bloggers. 9. Always eat well A rule I carry from my father: save money on everything else but never on food. A good meal while travelling isn't just nourishment, it's a mood booster. There's no point standing in front of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris while famished – chances are you will remember the hunger more than the masterpiece. When people talk about trips, rather than the art and architecture, they remember the meals and how they made them feel.
New York Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Dirty Clothes, Clean Fun: These Laundromats Aren't Just for Laundry
Washing machines hum in the background as customers at Pearl Lee's Washtub in Crown Heights sip beer, work on laptops and eat on the patio, waiting for spin cycles to finish. It's a Tuesday afternoon, and what started as a laundry run has turned into an impromptu neighborhood gathering — exactly what the owner Theo DuPree envisioned when he opened his 'laundrobar.' Brooklyn's laundromats have long served as informal neighborhood gathering spots, particularly in areas where in-unit washers and dryers are rare. Now, a new generation of entrepreneurs is reimagining the utilitarian businesses as hybrid community hubs. Laundromat owners are transforming the traditional self-service and wash-and-fold models by adding bars, coffee counters and snacks, maximizing revenue from limited square footage and turning the chore into a social experience. Mr. DuPree worked as a nurse for 30 years while running barbecue pop-ups at Brooklyn bars on the weekends. After retiring, he traveled to Europe and saw laundromats next to wine bars, an observation that redirected his trajectory. The laundromat, which opened in April 2023, was named after Mr. DuPree's Aunt Pearl, who 'prepared our meals and laundered our clothes.' Inside Pearl Lee's, patrons can do their laundry in the front area and then mingle at the bar in the back while they wait for their wash and dry cycles to finish. Pearl Lee's also hosts live jazz, comedy shows, watch parties and barbecue pop-ups. As a Black business owner, Mr. DuPree wants to inspire other people of color to open businesses. 'Maintaining a Black-owned business in Crown Heights helps maintain the culture of the community,' he said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
