From Police Officer to Successful Laundromat Entrepreneur

Описание: Welcome to an inside look at Soap Suds Laundry, the second laundromat built by Robert, a serial entrepreneur, licensed real estate broker, and former Houston Police Department homicide investigator. In this video, we meet Robert just days before the grand opening of his newest location at 1805 West Gray in Houston’s Montrose area.

After operating a highly successful laundromat in the Heights for 18 years, Robert waited patiently for the right opportunity before opening store number two. This episode is a real, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a premium laundromat from the ground up inside an old building, and why experience, patience, and discipline matter.

Whether you’re researching laundromat investing, ground-up builds, or using real estate to create long-term wealth, this episode is packed with real-world lessons.

🧠 In this full interview and pre-opening tour, we dig into:

💼 From Police Officer to Laundromat Owner
• How Robert built his first laundromat while still working as a homicide investigator
• Why laundromats became his vehicle for real estate wealth
• How owning the property changes the business equation
• Why he waited 18 years before opening a second store
• How running a laundromat lowered his stress, and increased his income

📍 The Location Strategy
• Second location in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood
• Higher average household income supporting premium pricing
• Expectations for stronger drop-off (wash-dry-fold) demand
• A former two-unit retail building (frame shop + salon) fully transformed
• How location economics support mortgage debt service

🏗️ The Build-Out Reality (1.5 Years in the Making)
This project wasn’t a simple remodel — it was a full rebuild.

• Jackhammering most of the slab to replace underground plumbing
• Installing new sewer, water, gas, and supply lines
• Two trench drains, each 2 feet deep
• Electrical and plumbing systems completely upsized
• A polished concrete floor poured over a brand-new slab
• Final approvals received the day of filming

🪑 Custom Design on a Real Budget
After construction ran over budget, Robert did what entrepreneurs do — he built it himself.

• Hand-built bench seating using 2x4s and 2x6s
• Window-sill seating integrated into custom benches
• Upholstered seat panels by a friend
• Folding tables built from butcher block tabletops sourced at auction
• Each table built for under $150
• Built-in outlets with USB & USB-C charging

🧺 Equipment Mix & Payments
• 80 lb washers up front
• Mixed washer sizes per row for flexibility
• Dryer wall with 30 lb and 50 lb stack dryers
• Dual bill changers + ATM
• Mobile payments via DexterPay to reduce cash handling

☕ Amenities & Customer Experience
• Pre-plumbed espresso bar for lattes, espresso & soap sales
• Laptop-friendly seating and charging stations
• Three TVs running Atmosphere TV
• Clean, bright, modern interior designed to feel safe and welcoming

🧼 Wash-Dry-Fold Operations
• Large back-of-house storage room
• Conveyor system for hanging drop-off orders
• Alphabetized order organization for efficiency and accuracy

🔐 Security & Employee Infrastructure
Built with a former police officer’s mindset.

• Steel shutters and fortified construction
• Nearly “bulletproof” manager’s office
• Rear-loading bill changers and ATM serviced from secure room
• Full camera system, audio, and machine controls centralized
• Employee kitchenette, private restroom, and secure cash drop safes

📈 Business Philosophy & Advice
• Why people will pay more for clean, safe, and well-run laundromats
• How better service equals better customers
• The importance of cash reserves for surprise costs
• Why ground-up builds always take longer than expected
• Endurance matters more than speed

📌 This video teaches you:
✔ Why patience can be a competitive advantage
✔ How to turn old real estate into a “like-new” asset
✔ The real cost of infrastructure upgrades
✔ How craftsmanship can replace capital
✔ Why customer experience drives pricing power
✔ How laundromats can pay off their own real estate

If you want to see what opening week really looks like — and how experience shapes better decisions — this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

👍 Like the video if you enjoy honest small business deep dives
🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes featuring businesses that actually make money

👉 Join the CLA and connect with thousands of owners building better laundromats
🔗 Scan the QR code in the video or visit https://linktr.ee/claspotlight

#LaundromatBusiness #SoapSudsLaundry #SmallBusiness #BusinessBreakdown #LaundromatTour #HoustonBusiness #CommercialRealEstate #EntrepreneurLife #PassiveIncomeMyth #LaundryIndustry #CLA #CleanShow