ARTICLE | PHILADELPHIANEIGHBORHOODS
Lessons in the laundromat: Philly initiative promotes literacy in everyday spaces
On a recent cold Saturday afternoon, Iris Hernandez and Carmen Colon were helping six Morales children through the letters, sounds, and words in the book “DJ’s Busy Day” about a bunny and his fun-filled adventures in ordinary places – the grocery store, on the bus, in his home.
OPINION | WBUR
People Shouldn’t Have To Risk Their Lives To Do The Laundry
Our new norm is to be obsessed with cleanliness. We’re constantly washing our hands, bodies and our surroundings, but some of us are unable to stay clean without leaving home.
In the CDC’s guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus, one key recommendation is to “wash laundry thoroughly.” Many states, including Massachusetts, have included laundry services as “essential services,” on the same list as healthcare and waste management.
Yet accessing a laundromat is still challenging for many Americans. Though the exact number of Americans who rely on laundromats to wash their clothes is not measured, the Coin Laundry Association estimates the coin laundry industry to generate $5 billion in gross revenue annually.
That’s a lot of quarters.
ARTICLE | THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Fodor’s Travel Guide says this Philly Laundromat chain is so luxe ‘you may be likely to stay'
The Laundry Café is, objectively, an amazing laundromat. For skeptics scoffing that “amazing” and “laundromat” don’t belong in the same sentence, consider this: In even the most densely packed neighborhoods, the Laundry Café’s four Philadelphia locations have free parking and curbside assistance. They also have giant flat-screen TVs, massage chairs, free WiFi, arcade games, and shelves packed with children’s books to beat back boredom until every last sock and shirt gets washed, dried, and folded. Even the decor is highfalutin’, the counters topped in granite and the walls colored “Tiffany blue” — as in the luxury jeweler.
So maybe it’s no surprise the Laundry Café made a best-of list.
PODCAST | EXECUTIVE LEADERS RADIO
brian holland of the laundry cafe featured on executive leaders radio
ARTICLE | AMERICAN COIN-OP
Philly-based chain serves up convenience, community programs to locals
It doesn’t take much to touch people, extend a hand, or offer kind words, according to business partners Brian Holland and Tyrone Akins.
So, when they launched their business plan to develop a chain of vended laundries, they also set out to serve and strengthen the inner city of Philadelphia—and that’s what they’re doing.
In less than three years, they’ve innovated two laundries in the city—both branded The Laundry Café—dedicated to honesty, transparency and community improvement.
“We are as committed to the community, using our laundries, as we are to commerce,” says Holland. “That’s key to our business model.”
ARTICLE | KYWNEWSRADIO.COM
Local laundromat franchise folds in literacy to its facility
A Philadelphia-based laundromat franchise is kicking off a literacy initiative at some of its low-income locations.
The Laundry Cafe already offers everything from massage chairs and big screen TVs to arcade games and barista services. Now, it's rolling out something more cerebral for parents and kids.
"We've created an initiative to bring literacy programs and other programs into laundromats nationwide," said Jeff Gardner, chairman of the LaundryCares Foundation, one of several Laundry Cafe partners. "We've got folks engaging with kids, coloring, talking, reading."
ARTICLE | FODORS.COM
10 Laundromats for Memorable Washing Experiences
Once a time-consuming chore for travelers, many wash houses now provide much more than soap suds—everything from a library to a bird sanctuary—perfect for multitasking while getting your clothes clean.
ARTICLE | LAUNDRYCARES.ORG
Free Laundry Day Successful in Philadelphia, PA
On the hot afternoon of June 19, 2018, more than 70 volunteers gathered at a local laundromat in the City of Brotherly Love to help the local community gain improved access to clean clothes and children’s literacy. The owners of The Laundry Café at 400 W. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA – Brian Holland, Tyrone Akins, and Ray Chamberlain – hosted a LaundryCares Foundation Free Laundry Day for more than five hours, helping hundreds of people in need within the community to wash their clothes, grab a bite to eat, be entertained, and enjoy books and learning activities for kids.
CASE STUDY | ESDCARD
THE LAUNDRY CAFÉ – BEST IN THE INNER CITY
Located about 8 miles apart, the laundries feature a vast array of services and amenities – wash/dry/fold, drop-off dry cleaning, massage chairs, low-fee computer rentals, free WIFI, video games, Starbucks coffee kiosks, digital jukeboxes, flat-screen TVs and a mix of approximately 140 Huebsch washers and dryers in 20- to 80-pound capacities. Fully attended, open 24 hours per day and card operated, The Laundry Cafés not only offer a safe haven for inner-city residents to complete laundry, they deliver unrivaled customer care and community support services.
ARTICLE | DROPPS
These Epic Laundromats Are Almost Too Cool To Be True
Who says laundromats can't be fun?
All across the world, facilities are changing the face of launderettes once and for all by offering a bevy of entertainment options, high tech machinery, free wi-fi access, and even delicious food and beverage menus to customers who'd like to make good, tasty use of their time in between washing, drying, and folding all those fabrics. So long vending machine sodas; hello chai latte.
These locations in particular have gone way above and beyond in the call to spruce up the spin cycle and give people a very real reason to look forward to laundry day.
CASE STUDY | HUEBSCH
Business partners team with Huebsch to realize their dreams in Philadelphia.
ARTICLE | PHILADELPHIANEIGHBORHOODS
Laundry Café Offers Customers a Different Spin on Clothing Chore
Tyrone Akins and Brian Holland knew that they didn’t want to be in the pharmaceutical business forever. At the same time, they knew that if they opened a business that it had to be unique and welcoming to customers if it was going to succeed.
That’s how the idea started for The Laundry Café. Located in Olney Plaza, the business has already expanded and is now looking to add services at Temple University.