Katie Wright wasn’t planning to open a laundromat. That is, until the Lincoln resident and full-time Realtor passed a vacant building on Railroad Street last year and saw potential.
In August, she opened Laundry Lady, a completely renovated, eco-conscious, self-service laundromat in the heart of Lincoln’s Manville village.
“As soon as we opened, we received a beautifully positive response from locals,” she said.
Laundry Lady features 10 high-capacity washers, 19 dryers, free Wi-Fi, a book lending library and device-charging stations.
“I’m a single mom,” said Wright, a U.S. Air Force veteran and mother of two. “I know what it’s like bringing kids into a laundromat. No one wants to be bored while waiting, so we have books and a family-friendly vibe.”
And her daughters, Kennedy and Avery, ages 13 and 11, are getting a hands-on lesson in entrepreneurship as they occasionally pitch in alongside the laundromat’s six rotating-shift employees, Wright said.
Meanwhile, her mother, Marcella Sajdak, helps manage operations while Wright juggles home showings at her day job.
“The community needed this, and I love being part of something that gives back,” Wright said.
Laundry Lady is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.