Is this a Laundromat or the Mouth of Hell?

Just scoped out another store for possible takeover. Good fundamentals (demographics, parking, size, building) but that's where the sunny side of the story ends. The condition - completely disgraceful. I've seen some dog mats before but this place was hideous - maybe the worst I've seen. I wish I had a camera as words are hard to describe how shameful this place was. If I was the owner I would never show my face. "Pride of ownership" is still clearly lost on some Mat owners out there. From what I hear from vendors though, this has been a big year for low-enders going belly up.

As you walk in, the first thing you notice is the staggering heat of the place. It was about 85 degrees that day and the store must have been about 20 degrees hotter - No AC. Two ancient fans, swirled and choked a small current of hot air and dust to and fro. The fans were so badly filled with lint that you could see some of the dust lint particles leaving the fan and floating through the air like dandelion seed heads.

The "store" was a dark tomb, but it was probably better that way. The floor and walls were a toilet mint green, heavily faded and worn. The machines looked like they were from the late 40s. Most of the washers in the back row had the glass punched out or doors ripped off the hinges and missing. With no doors or windows, the old washers degenerated to trash cans instead. Wrappers and debris of all kinds filled the old washers. One had a spittle of old sunflower seeds within. Out of 2 rows of washers it looked like only 5 or 6 top loaders were operable.

The back row had an unsightly display of antique dryers that were laid out in a single row. Many of their doors would not fasten shut, so they labored to spin with the doors slightly ajar. The original color of the dryers was a mystery but they were a faded pea soup color now.

The only thing handy in the store were the pile of tags with hooks on them that were strewn across the tops of the washers. These were provided for the customers to note the broken down machine problem they would most likely endure while trying to wash clothes in this unattended den of horror. The tags had a nice smiley face on top with a space for contact info at the bottom.

Shockingly, there were still a few brave souls in there doing laundry. Convenience of location still has clout - this hell hole is proof.

On my way out, with hands in pockets as not to touch anything, I noticed the chained and locked door of a now obsolete room. It had a small sign with aged yellow paper and old tape that at one time had been clear but had browned and crusted with time. The paper's edges were charred as if it lived through a dryer fire or two through the ages. As I leaned in to read the tiny writing, a faint whiff of sulfur and urine permeated. The sign read, "If you Sprinkle when you Tinkle be neat and wipe the seat".