On September 23rd, Sunshine on Glisan Coin Laundry & Cleaners closed for a multi-week renovation. Crews removed several old machines and used jackhammers to break up interior concrete at 7914 NE Glisan Street. Over the last year, the business’s new owner, Nader Fakhry, replaced aging machines and other systems to improve operations and upgraded washer capacity for the patrons who rely on this business for household washing needs.
Fakhry purchased the laundromat on NE Glisan Street in 2023 after several years running Alpine 24 Hour Laundromat on N Lombard Street. He registered both businesses under the Splash and Relax Laundromat name. However, Fakhry has no plans to change the name because he believes that it is essential that customers continue to see the traditional name of their trusted laundry facility. He wants people to feel confident returning to his business and has taken a paced approach to upgrades. Over the last year, customers have seen systems swapped out and payment options expanded. During the business’s transition to new equipment, customers would use one of several cashless payment systems, including the in-store loyalty program Fastcard, the Speed Queen app, or credit cards, depending on the machines available. The business owner’s gradual upgrades have created some inconsistency between units using old or new payment options, but those should dissipate when renovations are complete. The move to all Speed Queen equipment will enable people to use smartphone apps to track washer progress and not need to wait inside the laundromat.
When Fakhry took over the Sunshine Laundry, most machines were 20-pound capacity washers, similar in size to units found in people’s homes. Previous owners installed those shorter units on a large concrete platform in the center of the building that put washers at an ergonomically advantageous height for loading. The business owner is transitioning to new, larger capacity machines, some of which they installed during a March refresh, and others will be part of this latest renovation. The modern Speed Queen equipment supports loads ranging in capacity from 40, 60, 80, and 100 pounds. The larger equipment sits higher off the ground and will not work on the old raised platform.
Consequently, demolition crews are removing the concrete island in the center of the floor. Fakhry explained that this lowers the taller washers back to a reasonable height and allows patrons better movement between the washers and dryers without traveling the length of the laundromat to navigate around the podium. With the floor open, crews can upgrade the existing drainage system to higher capacity pipes needed for the bigger washers. Cement masons will need to increase the floor slab’s thickness in areas to support the heavier 100-pound equipment. Those are some of the largest capacity washers in Portland, and they can process five times the clothes as a home-sized unit.
Renovations at this nearly 100-year-old building were inevitable as the past owners retrofitted it for this use decades ago. MacMarr grocery stores built this storefront in 1930 under the old street numbering system. The City originally addressed the building as 1979 E. Glisan Street before the great renumbering of Portland. A few years later, before 1935, Safeway purchased the MacMarr Stores chain. It remained a Safeway store into the 1950s. Around 1961, the property’s owner converted the building to support a coin-operated laundry. At one point in the late 1970s, the laundry’s name was “Laudrymat Village” before other owners changed it to modern variations of the current business’s name.
With the laundromat’s long history of serving residents who need access to washers and dryers, its temporary closure will likely disrupt people’s lives and require them to visit other locations. However, these renovations will enable this business to grow to meet modern laundry needs while supporting programs people depend on. The pre-existing Fastcard system will remain with new, more secure cards, giving people $22 in credit for every $20 loaded on the card. Future equipment upgrades will also allow mobile tap-to-pay and direct credit card payments. Larger machines allow for more efficient service for all users, and they can also attract customers who have at-home machines but need larger capacity for bulky items or faster washing. Nader Fakhry plans future updates to expand his business’s wash and fold service and continue his equipment modernization efforts. Construction could take two to three weeks for contractors to complete work. Watch this article for updates on the reopening of this affordable neighborhood laundromat.
Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.