When Ofelia Lange opened a laundry in Holbrook, Arizona, she hadn’t planned to enter the laundry business. She originally hoped to turn her 2,000-square-foot building on the town’s main street into a restaurant. But after years of hearing residents complain about outdated laundries — and recognizing a clear gap in the market — she pivoted to create a better solution for the community.
With a population of roughly 6,000, Holbrook offers limited laundry options. Lange saw an opportunity to deliver something cleaner, faster and more modern. That vision became reality in March 2025 with the opening of Fluff & Fold, a fully attended laundry designed to raise the bar for the town.
From Idea to Installation
Because Lange owns the real estate, she maintained full control over the design and layout. The location brings strong visibility and ample parking — a plus in any market.
Early on, Lange partnered with Gabe Jimenez of Continental West in Tempe, Arizona. “He is wonderful,” Lange said. “I recommend him 1,000 percent. Others never had answers. Gabe answered right away and came out the same day.”
Jimenez designed the layout, coordinated with the general contractor and helped move the project swiftly from concept to opening. The speed of the process surprised Lange. “Everything came together faster than I expected,” she said.
Equipment Mix and Store Features
Fluff & Fold features Girbau Commercial (GC) GS-Series washers in 23-, 45-, 60- and 80-pound capacities, paired with Continental ExpressDry+ 45-pound stack dryers. The largest washers include the Express Clean soap dispensing system, which automatically injects detergent, brightener and softener into customer loads. This streamlines operation and eliminates the need to manually load chemicals.
The store also supports a separate full-service laundry operation with two 60-pound capacity GS-Series Washers and two 75-pound capacity Continental dryers. This setup handles wash-dry-fold service, commercial accounts and specialty items with ease.
As soft-mount machines, the GS-Series Washers require no bolt-down. That flexibility reduced construction time and overall installation costs by eliminating the need for reinforced concrete foundations, according to Jimenez. It also allows for easy relocation if the layout changes.
One Platform, Two Business Models
Often termed “hybrid” machines, the GS-Series Washers transition seamlessly between self-service and full-service programming. Self-service customers enjoy the intuitive touchscreen with multiple wash options, according to Lange.
Meanwhile, attendants run wash-dry-fold and commercial cycles using advanced wash formulas necessary for food and beverage, stained and oily items with customized water levels, precise chemical injection timing, extended cycles and higher water temperatures. This flexibility allows Fluff & Fold to offer both self- and full-service options from the same equipment.
Touchscreen Controls Enhance the Experience
Operation is straightforward. The washers’ 10-inch Genius touchscreen control makes cycle selection quick and intuitive while clearly displaying cycle progress. Customers can also add “Extras,” such as an extra rinse or enhanced wash, with a single touch — each adding incremental revenue to the vend price.
For Lange, the touchscreen also brings advanced diagnostic control, making management easier and more efficient.
Status Lights Improve Store Flow
As wash cycles progress, the washers illuminate Corner Status Lights in varying colors — signaling machine availability at a glance:
- Green: Available
- Blue: In use
- Orange: Cycle complete
The status lights not only capture attention; they help customers locate open machines swiftly and allow attendants to spot finished loads during peak hours. The result is faster turnover, more paying customers per day and smoother store flow, said Lange.
Faster Cycles, Lower Costs
Additionally, the washers’ high 450 G-force extract speeds significantly reduce moisture retention, shorten dry time and lower gas consumption.
Customers get in and out in less than an hour. “Our customers love saving time. Many times, it takes just 15 minutes to dry a load because the washers remove so much water,” said Lange.
Efficiency Matters in Arizona
That performance matters in a state where water and energy conservation are critical. “My water bill is very low,” Lange added. “Shorter drying times and efficient washers help keep utility costs down.”
Simple, Flexible Payments
Adding to store convenience is a Card Concepts payment system, which allows customers to pay with coins or cards. Free Wi-Fi, a spotless store and unrivaled customer care add to the experience.
Community Response and Growth
Early on, a grand opening raffle and washer giveaway generated strong traffic. Since then, word of mouth, a quality website and a branded pickup-and-delivery van continued to build awareness.
Weekends are consistently busy, with large-capacity washers in high demand for comforters, blankets and oversized loads. Plus, the laundry draws from the Navajo Nation about 40 miles north.
A Welcome Amenity for Holbrook
Fluff & Fold, according to Lange, is a great customer-focused business that’s raised the bar in Holbrook. With GS soft-mount washers, flexible programming, fast cycle times and strong distributor support from Continental West, the store has quickly become a trusted community resource.