In 1999, Professor Rene Davids seemed somewhat aghast that I would propose taking seriously my fascination with laundromats. Doing so, he stated, was akin to studying payphones or parking meters: things of the past, technologies (and moreso inconveniences) doomed to obsolescence. It was understood: 'progress is progress' and in an age with (for it was still 'with' then, not 'of') the Internet, who would argue the idea of coin-operated machines in a communal public setting as anything but, well, just old-fashioned?
Still, today, I find myself once again drawn to the topic as part of a growing interest in personal infrastructure. From the Coin Laundry Associate's Industry Overview:
National and regional demographics indicate renters, the primary users of coin laundries, are the fastest-growing segment in the nation.
Today’s coin laundry industry is a strong and vibrant one. Even more appealing is the fact that this dependable public service industry continues to grow and thrive. The demographic trends toward an even greater apartment dwelling segment of the population predict continued prosperity.
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