A place ‘people can enjoy'

Orland residents can now do their laundry while watching TV and playing arcade games.

Suzie's Place Laundry offers these amenities and more at the 52-machine laundromat on Woodward Avenue.

Susan Ford opened the business on a Friday the 13th in March, she said, but that has not stopped it from growing.

Ford said she wanted a business that would allow her to keep doing her merchandising.

The idea for the laundromat came from a friend who retired and opened one in Sacramento.

A year later, she found the laundromat in Orland and cleaned it up.

"We put in TVs and made it a place where people can enjoy it," Ford said, "even though they don't enjoy doing laundry."

The building came with a lot of room so there is space for two big screen televisions along with the games for children, teens and adults, she added. It has free WiFi, too.

Top loader washing machines that do 10-pound loads for $1 are very popular with customers, Ford said.

In addition to self-serve laundry, Ford offers a fluff and fold service with free pick up and delivery within Orland. Next-day service runs 99 cents a pound, Ford said, while rush service within three hours is $1.25 a pound.

She also offers garment steaming for $1 per garment.

Manager Robert Frease handles the washer and dryer maintenance and lives nearby, he said.

"I can be here in five minutes," Frease said.

Ford added, he takes good care of the place and makes sure it is clean for customers.

Frease also cleans the machines after customers leave, so the next one does not have a mess, he said.

Nine cameras also are placed around the laundromat for security.

"We want people to feel safe in here," Ford said.

She can even monitor them from her home, she said.

Special pricing for fluff and fold service is available for people 65 or older, or to those with laundry weighing 80 pounds or more and businesses with frequent visits.