It’s coming … Laundromat set to open soon

It’s coming … Laundromat set to open soon - A person standing in a kitchen - Self-service laundry

It should be only a few days, maybe a week or so, before the new Laundromat in Marathon opens. It will be the first time in three years residents have had the ability to use self-serve machines at a legitimate facility.

And, oh, what a Laundromat.

Rows of shiny stainless washers and gleaming propane-powered dryers line the Art-Deco-on-the-outside, spotless-interior-on-the-inside, Marathon Laundromat. It’s located at 1779 Overseas Highway, directly across Coast Guard Station Marathon. Some of the washers can accommodate up to 90 pounds of dirty linen and the dryers are just that efficient. It’s enough to make the owners of oversized comforters groan with pleasure.

“We spent a little more, but we chose the more efficient machines. The washers use less water, and the dryers, because they run on propane gas — dry much more quickly,” said manager Johnny Bajana.

Planning Director George Garrett advised the City Council on Tuesday that it’s just a matter of days.

“There are only a few details left to take care of,” he said.

Already, the place has been outfitted with a change machine, and dispensers of those adorable little boxes of detergent and softener. Of course, it has the molded fiberglass seating that’s period correct, and similar slick-surface folding tables.

Bajana said the washers start at $4 a load and the dryers run on time-allotments per quarter.

The Marathon Laundromat will eventually, probably, offer a fluff and fold service.

“I think we’ll start by taking names to gauge the interest,” Bajana said. A corner for refreshment sales is also likely. Hours are also yet to be determined.

The last self-service laundry facility, located at 60th Street, closed in 2013.

Sara Matthis thinks community journalism is important, but not serious; likes weird and wonderful children (she has two); and occasionally tortures herself with sprint-distance triathlons, but only if she has a good chance of beating her sister.