Texas is a big state, with a lot of firsts, but this one changed the world.

Try To Guess

The year was 1934 and the business opened in Fort Worth, Texas. It was a place where people tend to gather, even though being social isn't the goal. It can be essential to health and cleanliness, but it can also be a huge waste of day. Do you have it yet? How about this, it's a room with a bunch of machines in it. Okay, get ready for the reveal.

Here It Is

Fort Worth Texas was home to the worlds first laundromat. At the time it was not called a laundromat, it was actually called a "Washateria". At the time the machines weren't coin operated either, instead you could rent any or all of the four machines by the hour. It wasn't until about six years later that Westinghouse trademarked the word "Laundromat" (who else thought it was "Laundrymat"?)

It's A Right Of Passage

Most of us have had laundromat days and some of you still do. Sometimes you're between machines at home and/or want to wash a really big item so a trip is warranted. All I can remember is pure misery and boredom. This  is because my last visit came before smart phones and the internet so there was no real way to entertain yourself while you waited.

They're Still Essential

All through this research I've been thinking of a laundromat as something dated and a relic of the past, but they aren't. Laundromats are still a 3.4 billion dollar business and you have a Texan to thank for it.