Gentle Wash Laundromat has a new owner, sign, on Avenue A (aka, today in laundromat news)

Gentle Wash Laundromat has new ownership now at 97 Avenue A near East Sixth Street ... the new owner retained the former staff ... workers put up the new sign on Saturday... EVG reader Creature noted that the inside was painted and all the Asian nicknacks were removed... (and expect wi-fi service soon.)

Can't personally speak much about the place. There are several one-star Yelp reviews ("Please don't go here unless you want to be treated like an insect and for your laundry to smell like poop") ... and one person referred to the owner as an (ugh) "evil dragon lady."

Regardless, says longtime patron Creature of the former owner: "All I know is she was always nice to me and will be missed. It feels like another institution leaving, but that may just be me."

While I liked the former sign...



... it's nice to see that another laundromat didn't close down for good around the neighborhood. (Like here ... here ... and some day here.)

'Retail space available' at former East 10th Street laundromat

The laundromat (Chow & Lam Corp.) at 204 E. 10th St. near Second Avenue closed last month — victim of a large rent increase.

A "retail space available" sign went up on Monday, as this photo by Blue Glass shows...



We waited to post to see if we could get the new asking rent. However, we have not heard what that rent will be just yet.

Mimi opened the Laundromat with her husband Peter, who passed away in May 2000. Her son Antony worked by her side during this time as well.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rent hike KOs East 10th Street laundromat

Free clothes up for grabs as East 10th Street laundromat closes

The laundromat (Chow & Lam Corp.) here at 204 E. 10th St. near Second Avenue has now apparently closed, victim of a large rent increase. EVG regular Steve Carter passed along these photos from today...



Mimi and her son Antony worked steadily here for many years. Mimi opened the Laundromat with her husband Peter, who passed away in May 2000.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rent hike KOs East 10th Street laundromat

1 of Sharon's laundromats has closed on East 13th Street

The laundromat near Third Avenue — right across the street from The Jeffersons — closed last week... (Didn't spot the listing online just yet...)

However, the owner does still have a second location down the block toward Second Avenue...



Perhaps laundromats are on the endangered list? One on East 10th Street is closing; one on East Second Street is likely becoming a bar.

An update on the laundromat closing on East 10th Street

Earlier in the week, a reader said that today marked the last day for the laundromat at 204 E. 10th St. near Second Avenue... (closing due to a large rent increase)...

This is not the case. Here is updated information from another reader:

"They have stopped accepting dry cleaning and hand pressed shirts. They will stop accepting laundry for service on Friday 3/22. They will not close until the following week. During those last days customers will be able to pick up as the Laundromat is cleared."

Laundry-bistro concept not washed up

During Monday night's CB3/SLA committee meeting, members did not approve of the venture for 44 E. First St. — The Wash House, the laundromat-bistro concept that we reported on here. (Per an EVG informant at the meeting, committee members were apparently turned off, in part, by the fact that the applicants didn't have a clear idea of how much of the business would be derived from alcohol sales.)

We reached out to the proprietors via email to see what the next steps were. They had already signed a lease for the space here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

"We're considering taking the concept to another space and subleasing the current space to an all-night arcade or skateboard shop/cafe."

Previously on EV Grieve:
A 'laundry bistro' in the works for East First Street

Longtime laundromat on East 10th Street closes on Friday

Back in January we heard that the laundromat on East 10th Street near Second Avenue that has served the neighborhood for so many years will be closing ... We heard that the landlord was asking for an "insane" rent hike.

A reader tells us that Friday is their last day in business. Mimi and her son are saying their goodbyes now to longtime customers.

"Such a nice family. It's really sad to see them go," said the reader.

As for this space, you can probably count on either more ramen... or an upscale eatery from a name chef. Right?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rent hike KOs East 10th Street laundromat

Rent hike KOs East 10th Street laundromat

Word is spreading on East 10th Street that the laundromat near Second Avenue that has served the neighborhood for so many years will be closing in the next few months.

Yep, the lease at this place where Mimi and her son have run is up and the rent is going up. Shocker. It will close in March, though we're not sure if that means at the beginning or the end of the month.

Anyway, who needs things like laundromats when we can have more noodle and dessert places to serve the students and people who don't live around here.

Laundry loyalties on Avenue B

The new Quick Coin laundromat is now open on Avenue B near Fourth Street... in the former Carne Vale space...



Meanwhile, a few doors to the south... the other, older laundromat is throwing a 20th anniversary special...



...and just a few doors to the north... another laundromat ... (which is, I think, just drop-off service now, right?)



A reader told me that he feels guilty about using the new laundromat, but it is better, he says.

After failing to land a bar/restaurant, 46 Avenue B becoming a laundromat

Wow. Shockers. According to the DOB, this space is becoming a laundromat with 28 washers.... Previously, the home of Carne Vale.... and the space has sat empty for several years... Perbacco was going to give it a whirl, though CB3 said no to that ... then Zerza back in April...CB3 squashed that too...

So, a laundromat... good news for the long-suffereing Avenue B residents who suffered sleepless nights thanks Le Souk and Carne Vale along this stretch....

Old laundromat becoming new laundromat

The long-dormant East Village Launderette on Avenue B near 10th Street is becoming another laundromat, or maybe a Launderette. A little competition again for Spin City.