As we approached our one year anniversary in business on April 18th, 2020, we were in the midst of the first wave of a global pandemic. New York City, its epicenter, was shut down. In the weeks to come, a series of horrifying events would reignite a national movement for social justice. Our country barreled toward a recession and the future of our great city had never felt so uncertain.
We asked ourselves, “How do we meet this challenge?”
The answer, we discovered, was to double down on our mission statement:
Be of service to the community.
Maintain a safe & clean and environment for our customers to take care of an essential task – Laundry.
Be consistent – Keep regular hours, deliver our services as scheduled, and maintain top-quality, reliable service.
The phone rang off the hook. Are laundromats still open? Are our hours the same? Would we still deliver laundry and dry cleaning? Yes, yes and yes but the anxiety in the air was palpable.
We adapted as quickly as we could, following the developing guidelines from city authorities as we received them. Folding tables have been cleared so that customers can maintain social distance. Chairs are lined up outside the store for people to sit comfortably while their laundry is washing and drying in the machines. Equipment is wiped down and laundry carts are disinfected with even more frequency throughout the day. We've been met with very little resistance to these new protocols and, on the whole, customers have expressed nothing but gratitude for these safety measures.
In fact, 5 months into the pandemic, the neighborhood seems to have adapted to the new normal. Masks are worn. Handshakes and fist bumps are now friendly waves hello. We see extraordinary acts of kindness & generosity amongst our neighbors every day. We are proud to be part of such a resilient community.
It’s been almost 15 months since we first opened our doors and we have an even greater sense of purpose now. We hope, in these uncertain times, to provide a small measure of stability. We are offering an essential service to our community and that, for us, is its own reward.
To our customers, we are incredibly grateful for your loyalty and are proud to serve you. Be well and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Rattle & Hum Laundry Co.