Behind the Counter: 'No More Coins' at New Avon Laundromat

A place where everybody knows your name.

That catchphrase describes a bar in the classic television series Cheers, but there's another business in Avon that aspires to have the same friendly and conversational atmosphere. This place is a laundromat.

Maureen and Tim Callahan recently opened Rosie's Laundry along Route 44 in the plaza where Jazzercise is located. The couple has lived in Avon for 17 years.

Maureen, who used to work at ESPN and Major League Baseball, is experienced in business management and handles day-to-day operations of the business. Her husband, Tim helped design and build the store and is an architect specializing in "school design" and "project management," Maureen Callahan said.

We asked Callahan to give us the scoop on her new business and here's what she had to say.

Q&A

Patch: When did your business open?

Callahan: "The business opened in November 2012."

Patch: What services do you offer at your company?    

Callahan: "Our company is a self-serve laundromat that provides wash-dry-fold service and dry cleaning. Customers can either come in and do their own laundry or Rosie's provides services where the staff can do the laundry for their customers, weather it be a simple comforter or weeks worth of laundry. They also offer concierge service where you can put your laundry in the washers and the staff will move it to the dryers free of charge. No more waiting! Another nice convenience is that you no longer need coins, the store is run by a card system where the customer can use either cash or credit/debit cards and obtain a store card to start the machines."    

Patch: Why did you decide to open in Avon and what made you interested in your field?

Callahan: "In our early research it was clear that the Farmington Valley was in need of a state-of-the-art laundry company. Route 44 is the ideal location because of the larger volume of traffic. Route 44 also provides all the conviences for the average consumer. All the surrounding towns tend to come to Rt. 44 to get their errands done. Therefore, we felt it would be the best location for our customers. The reason we chose this field of work was that we felt the need for an updated system in the Farmington Valley. Everyone needs a laundromat from time to time, and yet the laundromats in the area have not grown with the new technologies that are available. We felt there was a strong need for updated, high efficient washers/dryers, with no more coins in the Farmington Valley."     

Patch: Do you have a business mantra you live by?

Callahan: "The operation is coin free, fast, clean and energy efficient. Our customers enjoy lively friendly 'Cheers' like atmosphere. Customers are engaged in lively conversation or quietly work on their laptop computers in the corner cabaret seating area. This is an old business idea that has been revolutionized through technology. We take cash, credit card and debit cards.  The machines are eco-friendly and use less energy and work in about half the time of conventional washer and dryers. The space is maintained and user-friendly with individual TVs at each folding station and free Wi-Fi. We take great pride in keeping our machines and the store spotless."   

Patch: Finish the sentence. When I'm not working I'm...

Callahan: "When I'm not working, I spend my spare time with family and friends.  I enjoy entertaining and Tim plays music, so we often have friends over for dinner parties. We also volunteer at Immaculate Conception Homeless Shelter twice a month."

BUSINESS INFORMATION
Address: 192 West Main St., Avon
Hours:  Monday to Wednesday at 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.          
Phone: 860-404-5572
Website: www.rosieslaundry.com
Email: Maureen@rosieslaundry.com