LYNN — The City Council unanimously approved on Tuesday a special permit for a laundry business that will occupy a portion of the former Garelick Farms facility on the Lynnway and create at least 40 new jobs.
Gabriel Mandujan, the founder and owner of the business, Wash Cycle Laundry, which has locations in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., came to the meeting to personally address the councilors.
Wash Cycle Laundry started 11 years ago in Philadelphia, said Mandujan. His goal was to create jobs for people with high barriers to employment and to differentiate his business by being more sustainable and greener.
“There is so much water, so much energy involved in doing laundry that if you can figure out how to do it more efficiently, then it potentially puts you in economic advantage and it is also good for the planet,” Mandujan said to the councilors.
The company uses market-leading sustainability technologies, including water-recycling systems and Xeros washing machines which reduce water usage by 60 percent.
Original deliveries were done on bicycles and the first client was a yoga studio. Since then, the company has received a federal contract, opened a location in Washington, D.C., and came to Boston in 2018.
The business is a commercial laundry whose customers are hotels, airlines, and small businesses like gyms, salons, and spas. They typically wash sheets, towels, airline blankets, and work uniforms for hotels. They don’t do any acute medical-care laundry.
Currently, the business is located in Chelsea; however, the new owner of that real estate decided to redevelop it. Thus, Wash Cycle Laundry was looking to relocate.
The company found a 24,000-square-foot location in Lynn at 626 Lynnway at the former Garelick Farms dairy facility (and West Lynn Creamery before that).
“We were very excited when we came upon 626 Lynnway,” said Mandujan. “We were excited because of the location, because it is close to our customers, primarily the airport, and we were also excited because it has a lot of the infrastructure that we need.”
“We are going to need to hire a lot of people and we really want to do it in partnership with organizations in the community,” said Mandujan.
Currently, the company employs about 75 people, some of whom are Lynn residents. The company plans to increase its staff to 120 employees at the new location.
Right now, the company pays $15-$20 an hour and 85 percent of the health insurance. Supervisors earn $50,000-$70,000 annually.
Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan said that he visited the facilities in Chelsea and had the opportunity to talk to employees and shift supervisors.
“They are a very well-run organization. They are about their employees,” Hogan said.
Hogan also met with the city’s planner to make sure the business fits the site.
“I think it is going to be a good addition for the ward and for Lynn,” said Hogan, noting that the business’ location on the Lynnway would allow people to walk to work, take their bike, or take a short stroll to a bus.
Mandujan is planning to start the buildout by the end of 2021, as soon as all the permits are ready.
“We hope to be up and running some time next year,” Mandujan said.
