Portraits of Success Setting Up a Laundry Center that’s ‘Superior’
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uperior Laundry Center, Brooklyn, New York, is the newest store operated by Superior Laundry Equipment, a commercial/industrial laundry equipment sales and service company. It opened in November 2021. Led by President Michael Gekelman, Superior Laundry Center is a 6,000-squarefoot attended facility divided between 4,000 square feet of laundry space and 2,000 square feet of parking for customers. It’s open seven days a week and offers self-service, same-day wash/dry/fold, dry cleaning, and leather, suede and fur cleaning. The new construction build originated as just a “warehouse with empty walls,” according to Gekelman. Superior Laundry Equipment found the space, ran a demographics report, created a pro forma and negotiated a long-term lease. Additionally, it assisted with financing; hired an architect, engineer and interior designer; prepared the store’s layout and design; and recommended a general contractor to build the store. Superior Laundry Equipment Co. was in charge of the entire project, and the new store was completed in eight months at a cost of $1.2 million. Superior bought and installed the newest line of Maytag® Commercial Laundry multi-load washers and ADC dryers to provide consumers everything they would need when washing and drying their personal items. There are 53 washers (19 20-pounders, 16 30-pounders, seven 40-pounders, seven 55-pounders and four 65-pounders) and 56 dryer pockets (20 30-pound stacks and eight 45-pound stacks) Among the other equipment and fixtures in use are a Laundroworks card system, Arbelsoft POS system, CAS scale, Triad bill breaker, Vend-Rite soap vending machine, Federal Machine soda/snack vending machine, R&B Wire Products anti-bacterial laundry carts, Navien water heater, Knight chemical dispensing and Sol-O-Matic tables. Gekelman says the store’s technology allows registered customers to find available machines and check on load status. 8
AMERICAN COIN-OP DECEMBER 2022
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Several different cycles available on the washers enables customers to select what option works best for them based on their needs and budget. In marking its first anniversary last month, Superior Laundry Center took pride in its safe, clean and friendly environment for customers and employees. Additionally, the innovative and intricate store design attracts customers from different neighborhoods to visit and discover what the business has to offer. Superior Laundry Equipment and Maytag Commercial Laundry have worked together for more than 20 years, and Maytag recently recognized Superior with a Vended Excellence Award for North America.
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D Birthed from a “warehouse with empty walls,” Superior Laundry Center offers a safe, clean and friendly environment (A) for its customers and employees, owners say. Its innovative and intricate store design (B and C) attracts customers from other neighborhoods to visit and learn what the business has to offer. And for those lucky enough to grab it, there’s some covered parking up front. (Photos: Maytag® Commercial Laundry)
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