Anthony, NM Laundromat Lowers Prices
Twenty-five cents does not sound like much, but for people who wash their clothes every week at Village Laundry, located at 800 Franklin in Anthony, New Mexico, a quarter adds up.
The owner, Albert Lara, said lowering prices is not just about the money, it is also the least he can do to show how much he values the community and his customers.
Lara said a frequent customer suggested cutting the price for washing clothes and the next day, he did.
“I just decided to lower prices just a quarter, help out,” Lara said. ?…Show appreciation to our customers because, you know, without them, we couldn’t stay in business.”
Lara did not announce the price change; he simply blocked one of the metal slots where coins are inserted on the washing machine. Customers can now only fit four quarters instead of five.
“And I was like, ?Heyy I got change left,? Angelica Chavez, a devoted customer, said. ?It’s great?every little bit helps.”
Chavez said she suds up multiple loads of laundry two to three times a week. She loves the service so much, Chavez said, her mother also drives all the way from Las Cruces to wash her clothes at Village Laundry. Chavez said Lara?s small 25-cent change is helping her, and other regular customers, pocket more of their own.
“He’s seeing it from the heart,? Chavez said. “He’s putting himself in our shoes, is how I see it, and you don’t see that around much.”
Others said the price change is right in line with Lara?s genuine character.
“It shows a lot,? Roger Tarango, another customer said. ?His moral fiber, he’s beautiful person it seems like to me.?
Lara has been working with the family business for about 20 years. He said this is the first time prices have gone down, and he has no plans to raise them back.
“It just made me feel good because you know they’re saying, ‘Hey this extra quarter doesn’t go in there,’ and I say, ‘It’s only a dollar now,’ and they’d get all happy,” Lara said.
Lara said he is finding it is the little things that can make life so sweet.
“It makes you feel good, you know, that you did something good for a change,” Lara said.
