CHICAGO — We’ve written about them before, but where are they now? American Coin-Op followed up this month with three previously featured Laundromats to see how their business is doing.
Loudon Speedwash, Mattapoisett Laundromat (both featured in Part 1 of this story) and Value Clean Laundromat are still doing well, thanks to the modifications and service that owners and attendants supply. Not only that, these small-business owners see more growth in their future.
THE WATERING HOLE
When Jock Jouvenat was interviewed for the July 2002 issue of American Coin-Op, he had two businesses besides Value Clean Laundromat in Roseburg, Ore. Water purification business Umpqua Aqua is still in operation, but he closed North Stephens Pack & Post about eight years ago.
The Pack & Post featured 132 mailbox rentals, mail forwarding, stamps, a fax machine, copier, office supplies, key duplication and services to UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service. UPS bought out Mail Boxes Etc. shortly after Jouvenat opened the business, so he needed to lower his prices to remain competitive. He kept the store open for about five years, but says he closed it due to prices and frustrations with the computer system.
Umpqua Aqua gets its name from the local watershed. The idea hit when Jouvenat was on a tour in Phoenix with the Coin Laundry Association and saw a Laundromat that offered a water service. And thus, Umpqua Aqua was born. Patrons come to Value Clean to fill containers with purified water provided by Jouvenat. Additionally, he supplies coolers, crocks and stands. Umpqua Aqua has been in business for 13 years. It requires no additional employees and is easy to manage, Jouvenat says. “It just sort of operates itself.”
Another source of profit comes from a soda machine and two venders—one vends snacks, the other vends 15 items, including soaps, conditioners, laundry bags, and more. Jouvenat owns the equipment.
He also runs a wash/dry/fold service, which he says is growing faster than the self-service side of the business. There are 25- and 40-pound IPSO washers and an ADC AD-330 dryer dedicated to wash/dry/fold. For his walk-in customers, there are two 75-pound, three 50-pound, nine 40-pound and 10 25-pound IPSO washers, and six Continental Express (20-pound) top-load washers, complemented by 10 ADC AD-330 dryers (20 pockets), three Dexter 45 stack dryers (six pockets) and four ADC AD-75 single-pocket dryers.
Over the years, Jouvenat has gone from having multiple managers to running the store by himself. He greatly enjoys his business, he says, but is hoping to pass on some of the work soon by hiring a former employee to return. “I’m going on 71 this month, and I just want a little less time at the Laundromat.”
Jouvenat says Value Clean Laundromat will continue to grow and gain patrons.
“I’m in it for the long haul,” he says. “I love the business.”
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].