Laundry chain embarks on major expansion.Clean Rite Centers, the laundry superstore su·per·store n. A very large retail store that stocks highly diversified merchandise, such as groceries, toys, and camera equipment, or a wide variety of mechandise in a specific product line, such as computers or sporting goods. chain, has seen broad success of its business model in the five boroughs of New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. with the expected opening of 12 new stores here in 2005, all of which are now under construction or awaiting permit approval. Clean Rite is also seeking sites for 30 more locations here between now and the end of 2006. "In just a few short years, we've become the 'gold standard' of laundry superstores This is a list of superstores by country. Multi-national
One of Clean Rite's latest developments is its newly opened super center in the South Bronx, in the just-completed New Horizons Shopping Center shopping center, a concentration of retail, service, and entertainment enterprises designed to serve the surrounding region. The modern shopping center differs from its antecedents—bazaars and marketplaces—in that the shops are usually amalgamated into , anchored by a Pathmark supermarket as well as numerous other national tenants. "We acquired a visible presence in a high-trafficked area," said Wachtel. "New Horizons, the newest shopping center in the Bronx, has an attractive, long-term tenant which made a considerable investment of around $750,000 in construction and equipment." Clean Rite is seeking sites to lease or purchase buildings of at least 3,000 square feet, with on-site parking, or vacant land of at least 6,000 square feet. "It could be vacant land or a parcel with a building," said Wachtel. "We are very flexible." Clean Rite is also undertaking an intensive expansion of its already burgeoning network of stores in six states, which should top 100 sites by the end of 2005. Founded in 1996, Clean Rite pioneered building and branding large, attractive, clean, yellow and blue, air-conditioned, hard-to-miss 24-hour laundromats that have professional attendants and many amenities. Unlike small coin laundromats that are often hidden on side streets, Clean Rite superstores are on main thoroughfares or in shopping centers, have plenty of parking, and accept only debit cards debit card, card that allows the cost of goods or services that are purchased to be deducted directly from the purchaser's checking account. They can also be used at automated teller machines for withdrawing cash from the user's checking account. in their machines. "We currently have 82 stores up and running and intend to open 20 more in 2005," Wachtel said. "Here and elsewhere, landlords and communities love us because we bring quality and value to neighborhoods, unlike many of the rundown Rundown A summary of the amount and prices of a serial bond issue that is still available for purchase. rundown A list of available bonds in a municipal issue of serial bonds. , dowdy dow·dy adj. dow·di·er, dow·di·est 1. Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby: a dowdy gray outfit. 2. Old-fashioned; antiquated. n. pl. , and neglected laundromats of the past," Wachtel said. "We are stable, well-financed and recession-proof, offering employment to community residents and building traffic for neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. retailers." A key to Clean Rite's success is its ability to show its communities it really cares. At two Brooklyn locations, the company is partnering and co-sponsoring, with a local college, a reading program to promote literacy among school-age youngsters who come to their centers. "We're proud to cosponsor co·spon·sor tr.v. co·spon·sored, co·spon·sor·ing, co·spon·sors To function in the capacity of a joint sponsor of: corporations that cosponsored a marathon. n. 'Wash and Learn' as an educational opportunity for youngsters," said Wachtel, adding that Clean Rite hopes to expand the program to more locations. Clean Rite Centers, starting from its New York City roots, has grown impressively and is spreading its brightly colored laundry superstores to communities all the way from Boston to Atlanta. Wachtel says they are just getting started. |
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