The World's largest laundromat in Berwyn, Illinois, which was nearly destroyed by a huge fire in 2004 will reopen this week bigger and better than ever. Not just a laundromat, this place is more like a day (or night) out.
"Oh, yes, the machines. There are 301 of them now, row upon gleaming silver row, including a dozen washers ready to whirl a whopping 75 pounds (for a whopping $6.50) and the Chicago area's first high-powered express models that more than double the G-force in the spin cycle to cut dryer time nearly in half."
Wow! But wait. There's more. "Rebuilt for $3 million ($2 million from insurance) even better than before, the Laundromat will still offer free pizza on Wednesday nights and will also have free wireless Internet access 24 hours a day."
Located in a working class neighborhood with a large Hispanic population, the laundry has long been a place that meant more than just washing clothes, it was an experience. "It was a haven for Hispanic families who cannot afford cable to watch Spanish-language soap operas. It was a Saturday-afternoon carnival with magicians, jugglers, face painters, even a unicyclist. There was Santa Claus posing for pictures at Christmas, the Easter Bunny handing out chocolate in April, cartoon characters on Halloween and, in summer, a read-athon raffle with bicycles for prizes."
And now there will be coffee and donuts in the morning. Owner Tom Benson calls all this "just business" but he's wrong. This is more than making money. This is love of community. Via Lucianne
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