The Empire Laundry off of 4th Avenue has many things to recommend it, but none of them have anything to do with the laundromat itself: There's a bar & grocery store on either side, it's a few minutes' walk from 4th Ave, and I actually have a lot of friends in the area.However, the laundry services themselves are shoddy, despite the big TV and shelves stuffed with paperback books. At least half the machines were broken, both washing and drying, and that was a great big pain in the ass.
Also, I don't know if dude actually hires some of the wet-brains next door to guard the place while he runs errands or something, but when we got there, there was a scruffy looking guy with a beard loitering around the door. As I walked in, he followed me right on my heels, invading my personal space. Then he asked me if he could help me with my change, and I told him no, I needed my change for the laundry. Slurringly, he led me to understand that his question was in reference to MY need for change for the machines. Had he been a little less scruffy, slurry , and maybe wearing a T shirt that said "Empire Laundry" on it, I wouldn't have treated him like a pesky pan-handler.
Donn thought this was the funniest thing in the world. This morning, I have to concede he's right.
In the end:
The dryers were roasty-effective, but that won't be enough to have me wash my didies at that joint again.
Pluses:
- location location location
- We weren't bored, at least.
- Nuclear powered dryers (at least the ones that worked)
- Literally half the machines were busted, and half of them didn't have signs on them letting people know that
- The bar next door IS a haven for riff-raff and flotsam from the human jet stream.
- There weren't enough wheely-baskets by a long stretch. I had to hold onto the one I had with dear life; some doughy bastard was ready to swoop it away from me even before I was able to tell him no, I wasn't done with it, thanks.
