A new laundromat in Crown Heights is serving alcohol and bar food to its customers.
Pearl Lee’s Washtub on Rogers Avenue sets itself apart from other laundromats by providing customers with drinks and burgers to enjoy while waiting for their clothes.
The laundromat has a selection of drinks including local beers, wine, soju, coffee, juice and soda. The menu also features an array of Caribbean-inspired snacks.
Owner Theo Dupree, a retired nurse, says the business is a fun way to bring people together.
Dupree says the laundromat was inspired by a trip he took in Europe.
“I went to a local laundromat, it was a small laundromat, and they were serving wine. I said, 'Hey, this is a good idea,’” he says.
He named the business after his aunt Pearl, who would have been 101 this month.
“Aunt Pearl was the nurturer of the family. She prepared out meals, she laundered out clothes. So, this is a homage to her,” Dupree says.
The unique business has received substantial attention from residents. Mayor Eric Adams even attended its grand opening last Wednesday.
Peal Lee’s Washtub is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. They begin serving alcohol at 11:30 a.m.