Freeway Laundry opens doors in Cranston

Daniel Kittredge
Posted 7/30/15

Freeway Laundry and Dry Cleaners has opened its doors at 1054 Narragansett Boulevard in Cranston.

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Freeway Laundry opens doors in Cranston

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A company with multiple laundry and carwash locations across the state has recently opened the doors of its first facility in Cranston.

Freeway Laundry and Dry Cleaners, located at 1054 Narragansett Boulevard, is “not your ordinary laundromat,” said owner Costas Perdikakis.

The 5,100-square-foot building – the company’s fifth laundry, joining locations in Pawtucket, Providence and East Providence – is bright with plenty of parking, filled with state-of-the-art washers and dryers, staffed with two to three attendants at all times, and housed in a stand-alone building. Patrons have access to free WiFi, and the walls are adorned with flat-screen televisions.

A certified civil and environmental engineer who previously worked as an environmental engineer for the state’s Department of Environmental Management, Perdikakis said he “accidentally got into this business in 1992.” Since then, the company has grown to include 10 locations, including five car washes across Pawtucket, Providence and East Providence. It has also gained a wide reputation for quality, being profiled in a national trade publication and providing guidance to others in the business regionally.

“We’ve developed a formula that’s successful,” he said.

The owner’s children – Giana Perdikakis, Rhea Ray and Dean Pedikakis – help oversee operations. Tracey Pedder serves as general manager of all the laundries.

The Cranston facility opened its doors just weeks ago, and currently employees six people. Plans call for the staff to grow in the weeks ahead. In all, the company employs approximately 80 part- and full-time workers between its various locations.

Perdikakis said the Cranston location was attractive because of the diversity of the surrounding area, ranging from college students at nearby Johnson & Wales University to working-class families in the neighborhood. He said the family’s ties to the community – his children were raised in the city – made coming to Cranston even more appealing.

“This is our first try in Cranston,” he said.

Perdikakis also praised Mayor Allan Fung and local officials for the “great support” the company has received in the two years since planning for the new location began.

“The mayor and the entire staff helped us tremendously,” he said. “They have proved once again that they’re friendly to businesses.”

The new Freeway Laundry opened its doors just weeks ago, and Perdikakis said the response thus far has been highly encouraging. A grand opening is being held Thursday, July 30, from noon to 6 p.m., featuring an outdoor tent, music and refreshments. Gov. Gina Raimondo and Fung are both scheduled to make appearances.

In terms of services, patrons visiting the laundry use cash or credit to purchase a card that can be used for the machines. Those using cash receive a 10-percent bonus – for example, $22 worth of use for $20.

Freeway offers same-day washing, drying and folding, and patrons can also schedule two-day laundry pickup service. Dry cleaning is also available in-store and through home pickup.

The laundry’s hours are 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit www.freewaylaundry.com.

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