READING, Pa. – These ruined machines once represented a fresh start for community members living in this low-income community.
“It’s a tragedy what just happened here, and we want to work to bring it back,” said Manager Khalfani Lassiter.
“The entire community comes here. I’d say every month, roughly over one hundred people constantly come here. The whole community, all around the neighborhood,” Lassiter added.
But recently, the owners believe a spark put a stop to that vital cycle.
“I think so much heat coming through on a hot day, something sparked one of those wires back there,” he said.
Earlier this summer, a fire ripped through Soaps and Suds Laundromat in the 100 block of Buttonwood Street in Reading.
“People, they don’t have washers and dryers in their apartments; bills are expensive. We micromanage to make sure our prices are relatively low while still being profitable,” Lassiter said.
The signs of damage are evident even from outside the laundromat, with a condemned letter from the city as the business looks for a path forward.
“We are running into difficulties with the insurance companies, and it’s kinda holding us back from getting the laundry mat operational again,” Lassiter said.
Machines that once made life a little easier for people in this community because of closeness and convenience are off-limits, meaning people have to travel farther to clean their clothes.
“I know they’re frustrated,” he said.
“We get phone calls, we get emails, people asking when is it coming back? What are we doing? When are we gonna get it fixed,” Lassiter said.
The repairs could reach into the six figures.
“The world is full of tragedies, but we got this business here to keep the community happy,” he said.
“We want to be proactive and figure out a solution rather than waiting on them,” Lassiter added.