After years of hauling their dirty duds to Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms residents will soon have a downtown laundromat of their own as a regional water board has given a thumbs up.
Come June, Twentynine Palms will soon have its’ own place to air dirty laundry as the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRBRWQCB) granted approval for owner Jay McCormack to get the Alamo Laundromat ready for washing and tumbling by summer.
On May 9, after reviewing Waste Discharge Requirements for the business, the board green lit McCormack’s plans to install brand new lint traps, septic and pit so the operation will be “clean and modern.” The system is also designed to adapt to a sewer system, if and when that happens in the city.
When completed, the location at 6343 Adobe Road will offer 39 washers (standard loads and up to 80 pounds) and 36 dryers, plus WiFi, a lounge area and eventually, a Fluff-n-Fold service.
McCormack, a resident since 1986, owned and ran the Alamo Market next door to the laundromat – the market is now a Family Dollar. McCormack’s son, Scott, will manage the laundromat and continue the family tradition in local business.
“The thought here was, the opportunity was here, the need was here – the opportunity was first because I don’t want to go into business not to make money, but the opportunity was here, the need was here so we decided to – and my son and I were looking for something,” said McCormack.
McCormack plans to incorporate local culture into the facility by displaying framed depictions of the city’s famous murals. With regards to safety, the facility will be video-monitored and there will be a full-time attendant on-site when open. Hours for the laundromat are tentatively set at 6:00 a.m. until 9 or 10:00 p.m.
While a handful of the washing machines will take coins, the majority will be operated by cards, now a standard in the industry. There will be a machine available to convert coins to cards.
