Germantown Laundromat & Shop

3 Church Avenue, Germantown, NY 12526

 

Dana and Tracy Martin are the proud owners of Germantown Laundromat, a staple in the hamlet of Germantown since 1965. The couple purchased
the business in 2018, and since then they have been busy expanding their offerings and upgrading the property.

Today, the familiar little building on Church Avenue houses a sustainable shop, a weekly on-site seamstress, as well as a traditional laundromat. And it’s
now painted a bright, cheery yellow with a bocce court and seating in the backyard.

Sustainability and living a cleaner life is important to Tracy. She wanted to provide laundry services that were more efficient and earth conscious to the
residents of Germantown. The laundromat now has eco-friendly washers and dryers, a clothing donation program, and is powered by solar and wind.

The on-site retail shop is filled with practical, sustainable products and household staples. Laundry detergent and eco-friendly cleaning products are sold in bulk.
Customers can bring in their own containers to fill or purchase a glass container on site, then refill when they run out. The shop carries a variety of
products that are made to last like wool dryer balls (instead of toxic dryer sheets), reusable food storage bags that are microwaveable and dishwasher safe, and
compostable bamboo toothbrushes. Additionally, they sell all natural medicinal products from nearby businesses like Good Fight Herb Co, Field Apothecary, and 2 Note.

“Germantown Laundromat has been here for over half a century,” says Tracy. “We wanted to keep the business going while adding products and services that support
environmentally friendly behaviors, like a weekly seamstress for alterations and repairs. It’s a laundromat that aims to teach the community the impact our
daily choices have on our bodies and the earth.”

Once Dana and Tracy purchased the property, they turned to Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) to help finance the cost of inventory and new
equipment. The couple were approved for an SBA Microloan, which qualified them to receive free technical assistance from one of CEDC’s business consultants.

“The consultant, Chris, who assisted with setting up our books was terrific,” according to Tracy. “Having one-on-one training to set up QuickBooks and payroll was extremely helpful.”

Germantown Laundromat is no ordinary laundromat. It has free Wi-Fi, indoor + outdoor seating, a water refill station and restroom.
The laundromat is open 24/7. A seamstress is on-site on Fridays. The sustainable shop is open Thursday – Sunday, 11-5pm. The business can be reached by
calling 518.537.7133 or emailing hello@germantownlaundromat.com.  Follow along on instagram @germantown_laundromat.