Back in business — New owners set up shop in Old Canal Laundromat
Meet: Norma Boyer, owner of Old Canal Laundromat.
Address: 107 E. Canal Street, Newcomerstown
Phone Number: 614-381-0029
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Services: Full-service laundromat. Free drying is offered on Fridays. Doors automatically lock at 9 p.m. nightly. Last wash should start by 8 p.m. Very clean and homey environment with big screen television and free wi-fi along with security cameras. On Fridays and Sundays – we do your laundry for you at the cost of $1.30 per pound. Please call to 614-381-0029 to arrange this.
Norma, please tell us a little about yourself, your family, and how you have been blessed with the Old Canal Laundromat in Newcomerstown?
“My husband and I reside in Columbus and have four grown children, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild. I have owned a cleaning business in in the Columbus area for over 30 years. My company specializes in commercial cleaning services such as businesses and offices. My husband, David, is a retired military veteran, with 25 years of service. We work seven days a week, so we love holidays because it is nice to get a break from cleaning and enjoy the time off. Sometimes we even get to catch an occasional movie in a theater, and that is a treat as well.
"I have a niece residing in Newcomerstown, and the family gathered in the village for the Christmas holiday this past Christmas Eve, and I shared that I would love to own and operate a laundromat. My niece immediately said there is one in Newcomerstown that has been closed for two years and may be for sale. I went to the location on Christmas Day and told my husband it was going to be my laundromat. We made a call to the Mayor Cadle’s office and the police station to inquire on the owner’s name and contact info. After contacting them, we were thrilled to learn they had planned to close completely, but were happy to talk to us about our interest in the laundromat. It was a whirlwind experience, but God certainly blessed us in finding this new venture over the 2021 Christmas season. We finalized details on Jan. 7, opened on March 5, and decided the name would remain the same due to the history of the canal running through Newcomerstown as well as the revitalizing vibe we are feeling locally. It’s exciting, and we and hope to be a part of this movement. My long-term goals include possibly buying and operating other laundromats once we retire from our cleaning business.”
What type of services does Old Canal Laundromat offer to area residents?
“First of all, we are a full-service laundromat. Our facilities are very clean, and the building is safe and secure as we have several security cameras installed around the premises. We want our clients to feel comfortable when they are here.
"We offer numerous washing and drying options, as well as heavy duty ones available for those that may have washing machines at home but want to bring in bulky items such as rugs, comforters, and blankets. We offer free drying on Fridays, and we are available on Friday and Sundays to take care of your laundry needs. All you have to do is call 614-381-0029 a few days in in advance, then you drop off your laundry and return to freshly washed and dried clothing. A large screen television and free wi-fi are offered for our customers using the laundromat. There is also plenty of seating, including comfortable chairs, and an all-around homey atmosphere.
"We feel our services are convenient and crucial for the Newcomerstown community in that Old Canal Laundromat is fitting for busy families that may not have time to complete all of the laundry their family generates at one time, and may find a laundromat more beneficial and time saving due to employment, attending their children’s extracurricular activities and more. Too, we are here for the elderly that need a hand with laundry or anyone else that may require assistance may it be temporary or ongoing. In addition, we have customers that chose to save on their utility bills, even though they may have working machines at home. Overall, completing the laundry task each week may not necessarily be fun, but we at Old Canal Laundromat make it more functional and certainly more comfortable.”
What would you like to highlight for us?
“We love Newcomerstown, our customers, and the general hometown friendliness that has been extended to us. Supporting other local businesses is especially important to us, and we have been around and visited and made purchases locally. This is a community that my husband and I would love to move to someday.
"Weekends are spent in the village and instead of dreading the drive from Columbus, we look forward to coming here, as we feel relaxed and refreshed by the pace and charm of Newcomerstown. I have even printed pictures of old Main Street, the canal, and other neat ones depicting the ambiance of times past. I currently have a quilt being created to hang in the Old Canal Laundromat showcasing the community I have fell in love with.
"After owning our cleaning business, we are very customer-oriented and have a suggestion box available in the laundromat for customers to share tips, ideas and more. We welcome any feedback you may have to improve our services, and also enjoy the wonderful notes that have been left for us. It is because of you, we are able to keep the laundromat open, and you are appreciated very much.
"Other exciting news is we just ordered a brand new 50-pound heavy duty washer, and we plan to purchase other new machines in the near future. We want to meet your needs, and offer more amenities as we continue to grow in the community.
Please stop in and check us out, or call 614-381-0029, and we can set a time to gather together. We love meeting locals and look forward to becoming more active in Newcomerstown. Now that Spring is here, I am excited to plant flowers and really spruce up the outside of our business."
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Back in business — New owners set up shop in Old Canal Laundromat
