Lavanderia Latest in the long line of conversions for Gamiz

LINCOLN HEIGHTS, Calif. – Every year, various laundry projects with vending machines are completed across the country, creating brand new or rejuvenated stores ready to serve customers.

To recognize the effort that goes into designing, building and equipping today’s modern self-service laundries, American coin-operated machine created this Portraits of Success feature to celebrate memorable projects from the past few years.

And so appliance manufacturers were invited to showcase their brand’s latest notable laundromat projects. Here is a story told by Speed ​​Queen, an Alliance Laundry Systems brand:

Lavanderia is the newest self-service laundry opened by Edgar Gamiz and co-owner Juan Galvan. The 2,700-square-foot Lincoln Heights store currently only caters to self-service customers.

A favorable long-term lease was signed in March 2022 and Lavanderia opened in January 2023.

“Heavy remodeling” is the best description for the construction project, which included the installation of new water, electric and gas lines. Distributor Alliance Laundry Systems West, with assistance from BW Laundry Sales, found the location, negotiated the lease, advised on the equipment mix, and sold the laundry equipment and payment system selected for the store.

The Lavanderia laundry is equipped with Speed ​​Queen laundry equipment, including six Quantum Gold top-loaders and 39 Quantum Touch washer-extractors (six 20-pounders, 11 30-pounders, 11 40-pounders, eight 60-pounders and three 80-pounders pounder). ).

The store’s dryers are also from Speed ​​Queen: 14 Quantum Touch Stack Tumblers weighing 30 pounds, eight Quantum Touch Stack Tumblers weighing 45 pounds, and four Quantum Single Tumblers weighing 75 pounds.

The “Why Speed ​​Queen?” The answer lies firmly in how Gamiz comes to market with its laundromats. His goal is, first and foremost, an exceptional customer experience.

“I want the laundromat to look like a palace,” he says. “I built this for the community and the customers care about it.”

Other equipment and items included in the project were 45 SpyderWash EMV card readers, two Triad changers, a Vend-Rite snack/drink/soap combo machine, four Rinnai tankless water heaters, a dozen security cameras with DVRs, five televisions and 15 chrome laundry carts (five offer large capacity).

According to Gamiz, the total cost of the project was less than $1 million.

His first glimpse of running a laundromat was when he was working as an electrician and watched the owner empty cash from the store’s money changer. “Laundromats make so much money?” he then pondered.

He convinced his wife that they needed to sell their house – the couple had three young sons at the time – and buy a laundry. The cash purchase of an existing facility left no room for a major upgrade without a few top loaders, and when he was handed the keys he became owner and service manager. Due to the condition of the equipment, he had to make daily trips to the parts warehouse to make necessary repairs.

But he stuck with it, and his work eventually helped him sell the store for twice his investment. When asked to consult on a new laundry in Burbank in 2017, it didn’t take long for the owner to ask Gamiz to join as a partner. He has since remodeled seven other stores and is currently co-owner of six, including Lavanderia.

He relied on the Alliance Laundry Systems West Region (formerly PWS) office and sales representative Yumi Ryoo.

“Yumi has been with me since day one,” says Gamiz, who has converted eight stores under her guidance. The two are on the same page when it comes to her knowing what he’s looking for in terms of demographics and store design. “When I call Yumi, I know she will really help me.”

Their partnership extends to all areas and Gamiz values ​​the one-stop-shop element he receives with Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution in terms of service, support, parts and financing.

“You have always been good to me; I don’t think I’m going anywhere,” he says.

Be on the lookout for more Portraits of Success profiles throughout December!