RIPON, Wis. — Commercial laundry equipment manufacturer Speed Queen is constructing a Chicago flagship store supporting its Laundromat franchise model, the Alliance Laundry Systems brand reports.
The store located at 6808 W. Grand Ave, on Chicago’s Northwest Side will open in the spring and offer 12,250 square feet of space, featuring washers with capacities ranging from a single load to 100 pounds and tumble dryers up to 45 pounds.
“While we have developed and perfected the Speed Queen Laundromat franchise over the last few years, it’s truly the result of our more than a century of industry leadership,” says Dan Bowe, general manager of North America franchising and retail operations for Speed Queen Laundromats.
As a Midwest company, it felt right to open the largest store in the Chicago area, he adds.
“This store certainly showcases to new investors the exceptional quality and aesthetics that are part of this model. It will change perceptions of what people think a Laundromat looks like.”
Touchscreen controls, app-based payment and rewards programs for frequent customers are among the store’s cutting-edge technology. Fast, efficient washer-extractors and tumble dryers offer customers exceptional flexibility to tailor cycles, while getting them in and out in an hour, all in a clean, well-lit environment with vibrant colors, according to Bowe.
Leveraging the brand’s 110-plus years of industry experience and branding as well as off-site management technology, Speed Queen Laundromat franchises enable investors to tap into the average return on investment of 30% that vended laundries offer, the brand says.
“As the leader in commercial laundry, nobody has more expertise to deliver a truly turn-key solution,” Bowe says. “We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to investors who want to take advantage of the revenue potential of Laundromats but with a more hands-off approach.”
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