Meet The Owner – Bims Laundry Cafe

Editor’s note: MyEverettNews.com is working to introduce our readers to more independent business owners here in Everett, Washington. We want to highlight their businesses, tell their stories and invite you to shop locally and help move Everett forward. If you know of a business we should feature, send us a suggestion via email: news@myeverettnews.com. Leland Dart – Publisher
 

Six years ago David Swissa had an extra large comforter that he needed to take to a laundry to be cleaned. At that time he ended up going all the way to Kenmore to find a place he felt comfortable spending time in while running that comforter through one of those really big machines.

“I thought why are so many of these places dingy and unwelcoming,” David told me. “That experience planted the seed for what you see here, a laundromat that is safe, clean and welcoming.”

David considered the idea while working as a management consultant and thinking about what he may want to do in retirement.

“I grew up poor and didn’t want to leave my kids money, I wanted to leave them work,” David said with a laugh. “I asked my wife and daughters if they’d consider running the Laundry Cafe with me and they agreed.”

In 2019 David found a spot close to home in the Silver Lake Shopping Center at 110th and 19th Avenue SE in south Everett, Washington.

The only issue at that time was finding contractors who weren’t already tied up on projects. Construction of the space began in November 2019 but when the Pandemic hit in February of 2020 getting inspections and permits slowed in Everett so the business didn’t open until July 2020.

“I looked out the window at the 300-vehicle capacity parking lot and there were 17 cars,” David said. “Most of those belonged to employees at other businesses.”

It has taken a couple of years for things to pick up and there have been refinements along the way.

David began the cafe offering Mediterranean cuisine featuring salads and sandwiches but that actually proved to be so popular, the laundry operation that was the original plan began to suffer. David’s daughters are also off to college so he’s the primary employee.

Now he has more of a snack bar format with hot and cold drinks including espresso, teas, smoothies and shakes along with croissants, cookies, cakes, muffins and baklava.

“There will be no vending machines,” David declared.

A more recent offering is non-alcoholic wine and spirits by the glass or bottle. Check out what he calls the “Dry Duck Bar” or pick up a bottle to go for your next occasion where you want to serve guests non-alcoholic beverages.

Bims Laundry Cafe is a bright open space that features art on the walls brought in by customers and local artists. It’s also a meeting place where book clubs, community groups and others gather. David says it’s also simply a great place to hang out while your doing your laundry.

He recognizes customers on sight and while I was there greeted several by name as they came in the front door.

Bims Laundry Cafe provides pickup, delivery and drop-off service. You can get your dry cleaning taken care of and David also offers re-upholstery and alterations.

There’s an app that you can download to your phone so you can pay that way or a bill-changer if you prefer to feed the machines coins.

They’re open seven days a week from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM and are located right between the Hallmark Store and Liquor store at 11014 19th Avenue SE Everett, 98208.

You can learn more about Bims Laundry Cafe here online.