Thursday, June 12, 2014

Deconstructing Launderette



Workers are gutting Launderette at 97 Second Ave. this morning ... one day after the longtime laundromat near East Sixth Street closed for good.



As we previously reported, the operators of Launderette also owned the building ... and they decided to sell "for a host of personal and business reasons," according to a detailed letter to customers.

Stuart Zamsky, who took these photos, calls this a "huge loss" for those residents who have depended on Launderette through the years.

The new landlords are hoping to attract a restaurant, the last thing this part of Second Avenue needs, into the space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
It will be 'easy to convert' Launderette into a restaurant on 2nd Avenue

Longtime Second Avenue Launderette will close this summer

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The new landlords are hoping to attract a restaurant"

How's that working out for the landlord of the former SEA SALT space next door that has been vacant for what seams like 3 years. And the old KIEV space that has changed over 3 times and is now empty after PICNIC last a whole 3 months.

Anonymous said...

Ridiculous - why do the new landlords need a restaurant? So sick of it all.

Charlie said...

I feel sorry for the folks nearby that have to schlep their dirty laundry to places further away. Seriously, Laundromats are like cash cows. Why would you gut one for a business whose industry fails more than it succeeds?

genevieve said...

I believe that I washed some clothes at that laundromat several years back. If there's one thing people cannot do without it's a place where they can wash. It's part of everyday life.

Walter said...

That's where I used to bring my laundry, probably for 3 or 4 decades). The women there did a terrific job. Hope they get other employment. No restaurant on that stretch of 2nd Avenue has ever succeeded in the last 20 years, and there were some with neighborhood credentials. I'm reasonably sure that no local will desecrate what once was the most convenient local laundromat. Salt, some Indian place thought it might do better on 2nd....never worked out. And now the owner of a successful laundromat wants to get into the restaurant business? Ha...no neighbor in his/her right mind would ever set foot in that place. There might be some traffic from tourists on weekends, but for the rest of the week it'll remain empty. 3 months from now, he'll realize he made a huge miscalculation. However, at that point there'll be no return. I already found another laundromat on 5th, between 2nd & 1st. As always, just my $.02

THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N. said...

Obviously they're going to open a mini, mini mall with bank, liquor and fro-yo in a hoof kiosks. And kiosks with salmon pants and boat shoes for walks of shame.

Anonymous said...

Back in the day, I used to do my laundry myself there. Then I started dropping it off and having it done for me at the place on Second Ave and 3rd street. Now I just throw away things when they are dirty and go to Uniqlo and replace them with new things.

Suanne said...

Hey Walter - welcome to my laundromat! Owner/operator Lou is one of the nicest guys around - and their drop off service is excellent. See you by the dryers

Anonymous said...

This was my mat for years after the "laundrobot" on 6th closed. I got nothing but stink-eye and hassles, especially near closing time. The guy working here would pretend to water plants all day and night, when really he was just skulking around giving everyone the suspicious stink-eye. The best thing I can say about this place is that the change machines always worked.

I thought the area was underserved back then. What now? I imagine a lot of people will now have to walk several blocks to do laundry.