Eagle laundry business ready to rebuild

EAGLE — By razing its fire-gutted building, Western Slope Laundry has begun the progress of rebuilding in Eagle.

According to laundry owner Bob Matthews, crews began demolition July 10 and will complete the work in the next two weeks. After that, construction crews will gather at the Sawatch Road location in Eagle to begin reconstruction of the commercial laundry operation.

“Then it will be a sprint to the winter,” said Matthews.

Western Slope Laundry was destroyed by an accidental fire during the early morning hours of June 5. The blaze affected the livelihood of 25 full-time employees and some 30 seasonal workers.

Damages were estimated at more than $2 million.

The fire also left more than 125 Western Slope hotels, condominiums and restaurants grappling with how to handle their laundry needs. They didn’t have to worry for long.
Within two days, Western Slope Laundry had taken over a previously shuttered commercial laundry building in Montrose and was back in business. The laundry will continue to operate at that location until the Eagle facility is rebuilt.

“At least, for now, we are able to serve our customers,” Matthews said.

Rebuilding the laundry is one challenge. The other is locating the kind of large-scale, commercial-grade equipment needed. Matthews said he has been able to find most of the equipment he needs.

He is serious about the Thanksgiving reopening goal. Matthews said the winter is Western Slope Laundry’s busiest time. He plans to be back up and running in Eagle by the time skiers hit the slopes.

In the meantime, Matthews says it’s encouraging to watch changes at the site, even if crews are currently tearing down rather than building up.

“It’s therapeutic to see action out here,” he says.

Matthews again thanked Western Slope Laundry’s clients for weathering the crisis with the business. “We are very fortunate we have the long-term local relations we do.”