Laundromat opens in New Richland

New Richland Farm and Home Supply, formerly Gambles, owner Bruce Meyer opened what he calls a “basic and efficient” laundromat along New Richland’s main street earlier this summer. He says he is glad it was an option for those who had extra cleanup to do after recent flooding, and for those whose washers or dryers may have been damaged. He points out customers can accomplish their work more quickly at the laundromat because they can use more than one machine at a time.

 

Entry to the facility is right next to the entry to the Gambles store. Inside are four high-capacity washers, four dryers, and a raised counter for folding laundry. Meyer has observed that, over the two months it’s been open, the amount of use it’s receiving has been increasing.

 

The retail store, which offers a broad line of products for household upkeep and repair, is open Monday through Saturday until 3 p.m.

 

The laundromat has its own hours, with doors which are automatically controlled to be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Meyer warns, however, that the lock engages at 7:30 p.m.

 

He mentions customers may want to be careful of a situation encountered by one customer who carried the first basket of her laundry to her car, then realized 7:30 had passed and she could not re-enter the space. Getting back in was accomplished with the assistance of the police department, who got in touch with Meyer.

 

He also mentions there is no change machine in the space. He suggests customers arrive with the needed combination of coins to pay the $2.75 per washer load and $1.50 per dryer load. They can, of course, also get change at the Gambles store. He says he intends to install a dispenser offering single-use packets of detergents and other laundry products sometime in the relatively near future.

 

Meyer, a 1987 graduate of NRHEG, says he hopes the new laundromat will increase traffic in the hardware store, and perhaps help increase people’s appreciation of the value of having local retail stores like his. He stocks a wide range of tools, equipment and supplies for customers working on their plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden and painting projects. He also has a line of pet supplies. He expresses a willingness to expand his available products if folks let him know of their need.

 

He describes having taken over ownership of the store with the intent of supporting the community. “I can keep the doors open as long as people support me by shopping here,” he observes.