[freetime2]

From the article:

Laundromats’ margins are further thinning as the price of water and sewage services have risen across the country. Utilities make up by far the heftiest of Lavanderia’s expenses, costing over $100,000 each year. Add to that the roughly $30,000 Tillman spends fixing his aging washers and dryers, and the laundromat is left with about $140,000 of profit each year, a number that continues to dwindle.

For a small business that pretty much runs itself, $140k / year actually seems like a pretty good profit to me. So I guess the issue is not so much that the laundromat business is unprofitable, but rather that compared to the value of the land it is sitting on, $140k/yr is a pretty terrible ROI.

[ams6110]

Solar water heating seems like a no-brainer for a laundromat. Most are in strip malls or freestanding box-type buildings with a lot of flat open roof space.

Article also didn't seem to mention cost of emplying attendants. Never seen an unattended laundromat -- people need help with jammed coins, etc. and to prevent vandalism.

[danielparks]

I don't remember seeing any attended laundromats when I lived in SF in 2013. I was in the Nob Hill area.

Somebody did come by to close them, and there was generally a number you could call if a machine ate your quarters.

When I moved to Portland I was impressed by all the apartments with in-building washers. I quickly realized they were a necessity here since there are very few laundromats.

[icebraining]

In Europe, all laundromats I've seen were unattended :)

[Broken_Hippo]

Most I've went to only have an attendent during part of the week, and some have no staff on hand at all. After attendant hours, you gotta call if you have problems. Vandalism was a problem, as is theft, but paying staff - especially in 24hour places - is more expensive.

[EADGBE]

Yeah, they give you an un-answered phone number to call in case of a jam.

[jandrese]

I've never been in a laundromat with an attendant.

[flukus]

The problem is that things like a laundromat can contribute to the value of the land it's on. If it's gone then suddenly it becomes a less desirable area to rent in, the 7/11 next store doesn't have as many bored people etc.

[yonran]

The laundromat owner in the article recently explained (https://groups.google.com/d/msg/sfbarentersfed/u898cgma8jE/7...) that the duration of the lease is a big determinant of whether it’s sustainable. It could very well be that a laundromat in the Mission district cannot afford today’s rents.

In the case of Lavanderia, since he is lucky to own the land, he is also mindful of the highest and best use of the land.

[Nition]

Especially if costs are like $150,000 ($100,000 + $30,000 + a bit extra). That's almost 50% profit.

[chias]

Don't forget actually buying all the machines to begin with.