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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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The Most Unique Laundromat
You’ll Ever Set Foot In
A
nyone who’s ever washed their clothes at the laundromat knows that
the experience is maybe just a little bit better than getting stung by
bees. But Mike Klipsic, owner of the Old West Wash House, has been
trying to change the image of the laundromat for the past 30 years.
“We’re the largest laundromat in Pittsburgh and we offer everything from
coin-operated machines to on-site dry cleaning, drop-off laundry service,
alterations and fur and leather cleaning. Our dress shirts are pressed one at
a time on an ironing board like Grandma used to do them,” Klipsic said. “You
name it, we do it.”
And where most laundromats are spartan in their decor in an effort to get
customers to do their business and leave, the Old West Wash House wants
you to tie off the horse and take a load off. With a lounge area, complete
with comfortable, cushy armchairs, big-screen TV, the Old West Wash House
encourages customers to relax while they wait for their laundry to cycle
through.
“We have people who travel an hour every week to come to us to do their
laundry,” Klipsic said. “They love the services we offer and they love the decor.
It’s a unique experience that they can’t find anywhere else.”
As far as decor goes, you’ve probably guessed by the name that the Old
West Wash House is pretty much a Western-themed establishment. How it got
that way, however, was completely happenstance.
“I used to own DJ Mike’s where 88 Lounge used to be. It was the oldest
country bar in Pittsburgh,” Klipsic said. “One day, I put up a steer head and the
next thing you know, people started coming in and giving me gifts to keep
the theme going — Native American blankets and things like that. I brought it
all to the laundromat and it’s just grown from there. I’m actually going to West
Virginia to pick up 15 authentic pieces of Native American art for display.”
If you’re the kind of person who wants to just do your laundry as fast as
possible, the Old West Wash House has you covered there as well. Klipsic just
added several commercial washers that can accommodate seven regular loads
of laundry in one cycle that lasts just 23 minutes. He’s now working to increase
the number of washers and dryers. If you want to step out during your laundry
time, the Old West Wash House is situated in the same plaza as a Bruster’s Ice
Cream and Olive Oil Pizza. There’s also a nearby Dollar General, so you can eat,
get a snack and pick up some odds and ends all in the same trip.
To top it off, the Old West Wash House has a full-time attendant on staff
from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, to assist you in any way possible.
A state-of-the-art security system helps keep customers safe and relaxed
whether they’re doing their laundry in the early morning or late evening
hours.
For more information on the Old West Wash House, call 412.835.8009. Or
better yet, stop in at 4950 Library Road, Bethel Park.
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