Robert Kolowitz is new owner of Sunshine Laundries on Web Street

At Robert Kolowitz's old job at the San Juan Island solid waste transfer station, there was a saying, "Garbage in, garbage out." Now, he's changed his mantra to "Laundry in, laundry out." Kolowitz, former supervisor of the transfer station on Sutton Road, is the new owner of Sunshine Laundries on 80 Web St., Friday Harbor. He purchased the laundries on June 1 from Teresa Strong. Terms were not disclosed.

At Robert Kolowitz’s old job at the San Juan Island solid waste transfer station, there was a saying, “Garbage in, garbage out.”

Now, he’s changed his mantra to “Laundry in, laundry out.”

Kolowitz, former supervisor of the transfer station on Sutton Road, is the new owner of Sunshine Laundries on 80 Web St., Friday Harbor. He purchased the laundries on June 1 from Teresa Strong. Terms were not disclosed.

The laundries has expanded hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Beginning July 10, it will also be open Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunshine Laundries offers a variety of cleaning services: Dry cleaning and leather care; commercial laundry for bed and breakfasts, hotels, resorts, restaurants, taverns; personal laundry; and fluff and fold.

Sunshine Laundries cleans animal beds, blankets, comforters, duvet covers, featherbeds, horse blankets, mattress pads, pillows and toppers, quilts, rugs, sheets, sleeping bags, and tablecloths and napkins.

Sunshine Laundries also rents aprons, bar mops, coveralls, dry and wet mops, rags, rugs, and special event linens. The laundry offers pickup and delivery. Call 378-7223; e-mail sunshinelaundries@yahoo.com.

“A lot of people don’t realize the amount of services we offer,” Kolowitz said.

Kolowitz and his wife, Patricia, have lived on the island since 1998. They have three children and a nephew at home. Kolowitz worked for the county for 10 years; prior to that, he was a drug counselor at San Juan Recovery.

He called his newest venture “an exciting change.”

“Instead of dealing with stinky garbage, it’s laundry in laundry out,” he said. “It’s a little bit of a learning curve, but I have some really knowledgeable staff.”

He added, “It’s really challenging. I’m being mentally challenged again.”