By Charlie Bermant
Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — In a complicated world, there are still some simple universal joys, like driving a clean car and wearing clean clothes.
And amid all the businesses that have opened and closed in Port Townsend, one has helped people achieve those goals for three decades.
“Business had slowed for a while, but we are doing pretty well so far this summer,” said Vi Koenig, who has owned and operated the Port Townsend Laundromat and Car Wash along with her husband, Bob, for 30 years.
“We haven’t been real happy with where the economy was going, but now things are good.”
A 30th anniversary celebration will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the business at 2115 W. Sims Way, just south of the Thomas Street roundabout.
A ribbon-cutting is planned for noon. Throughout the day, there will be music, prizes and children’s activities, with a 7 p.m. drawing for a giant stuffed panda.
But the highlight will be a slide show that portrays the business and its owners throughout the years, Vi Koenig said.
“This is a great little old town that’s easy to get around in,” she said. “It’s a good place to be.”
The Koenigs opposed the construction of the roundabouts on Sims Way in 2010 when it appeared one might be built at their intersection, and they remained skeptical of them when the location was moved a block away.
After an initial slight downturn in business, they now feel the system works well.
“It can be difficult to get through the median, but it is actually easier for our customers to go south after getting their car washed,” Vi Koenig said.
The roundabouts piqued Koenig’s interest in governmental operations and prompted her to become involved with the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, where she is serving a second term as board member,
The Koenigs arrived in Port Townsend in 1983 and operated downtown before moving the business to their current location three years later.
At that time, they added a self-service car wash, which for a time was the only car wash in town. The Car Wash at 515 Howard St. opened in 2010, followed by the Sea Breeze at 1408 W. Sims Way last year.
The laundromat has 24 washers and 22 dryers for self-serve customers, and runs a drop-off laundry service for 85 cents a pound with a 10-pound minimum.
“A lot of people who have a washer and a dryer at home come in here and drop their laundry off,” Koenig said.
“They don’t want to spend all day doing their laundry.”
The Koenigs, both 69, have been married for 48 years. They have two sons and three grandchildren.
The Port Townsend Laundromat and Car Wash is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, phone 360-385-5755.
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
