Open for business and reaching out to their community, Peter Cobb, owner of Washvault, reminds us “just as we're all in this together during COVID-19, that unity and support will be even more important during the recovery.” Read on for how they are changing their business to keep us safe as well as clean.
Can you tell us about Washvault before COVID-19 (i.e. the BC era)?
BC, Washvault was a full-service laundromat, offering self-serve machines and a wash-dry-fold service (as well as dry cleaning for those who needed it). We also featured concerts, readings, and exhibitions by local artists and musicians, and served as an "as-needed" community meeting space for a number of Medford-based civic groups.
What makes Washvault different?
I think that we're the only laundromat in the area that has hosted a 17-piece jug band! But seriously, we have a commitment towards making the space a good experience for people and being a genuine resource/platform for the community, particularly the arts. We've configured the space so that we can host artistic events and have made logistical and operational decisions with that in mind. It's not just something we do "on the side."
Who might benefit from your offerings? We hope that anyone who either wants to experience art in an intimate setting would benefit, as well as anyone looking to do laundry...and ideally both at once! More specifically, we're a great platform for artists to experiment or workshop an act. We've had a number of Tufts students take advantage of that, and it can be a good way for the diverse Hillside neighborhood to experience each other in different ways.
How has COVID-19 affected Washvault? How have you, as a local business, responded?
It has been very challenging, but we are not unique in that respect. It's a scary time for everyone, both in terms of the health issues and the economic ones. As an essential business, our first concern has been ensuring the health and safety of our customers and employees through proper hygiene and following the instructions by the government and health authorities.
Beyond that, we've offered to pick-up and deliver for anyone who does not want to come into a public space to do laundry. We know it's a tough time financially for everyone, so we're doing this on a "pay-what-you-wish" basis during COVID-19. Most importantly, we're doing everything we can to remain open–we know that many of our neighbors still need a place to do laundry, and we want to keep that available. But it's tough, as we've lost 60-70% of our customer base to COVID-19.
Finally, do you have any sage advice for other small business owners who may be facing similar challenges AND/OR your fans that may be either sheltering in place or dislocated (Tufts students)?
To our fellow small business owners–our hearts go out to all of you. To see your dreams and livelihoods threatened is very frightening. Be vocal about asking for help from your customers, as most people want to help. This can be a good time to work on creating new relationships with customers, rethink operations, or upgrade your online presence/services. Hang on as best you can, and remember that just as we're all in this together during COVID-19, that unity and support will be even more important during the recovery.
To fans/customers/displaced students, let us know how we can help! We're still open and there for your laundry needs, and if you're looking for someone to brainstorm with from a distance of 6 feet, or to embark on a creative project you've been incubating, we're ready!
Washvault Lab
317A Boston Avenue, Medford
(781) 393-4505 | text: (781) 383-5174
Hours (temporary):
Monday - Sunday: 10am–7pm
Check out our other Medford Spotlight posts.
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