Named by a child, Dino Coin Laundromat in Pacific Beach has a new drop-off, fluff-and-fold system, as well as being committed to offering customers quality service.
The corner laundromat at 4977 Cass St. is owned by Ana Elena and Ed Chacon. Their 7-year-old daughter, Alana, named the coin-operated laundry after dinosaurs. Alana also designed the laundromat’s dino logo.
Dino Coin Laundromat boasts new small and large front-loader Wascomat and Maytag washers charging $2.50 to $5.50 to operate. Dryers cost a quarter for seven minutes. A huge six-load washing machine is expected to be installed in a few weeks.
A Costa Rica native, Ana came to New York City 23 years ago “just to practice her English,” and never left. She and her husband, who grew up in Pacific Beach, live in the neighborhood.
“My husband is in the vending machine business and he bought this laundry when I was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer two years ago,” said Ana, who has a psychology research and human resources background, which has helped her manage her business.
“People are very particular about how they do laundry,” Ana said. “Some people are very meticulous. We follow their instructions, try to explain how each of the machines are different, and how we can take care of all of their laundry needs.”
Dino’s large washing machines are perfect for comforters, pillows, drapes, quilts, covers, rugs, etc. The laundry’s early bird special from 6 to 8 a.m. daily offers 25 cents off Maytags.
Ana is proud of Dino’s new laundry drop-off system employing lockers, which she noted is similar to other systems being used in other U.S. laundries for customer’s convenience.
“They can come anytime during the day when we’re open and leave their clothes in a locker,” she said. “They text me, and I come and take care of it.”
“It’s a great location, people know where it is and there’s lots of parking,” pointed out Ana of their retail space, that’s been a laundromat for 40 years or more. “When we took over we kept a lot of the good things that had been going on with the previous owners, and started buying new machines and are getting in a big one now, a 60-pounder, for people who don’t want to complicate their lives and just throw everything in there.
“Right now we have a special on Groupon,” said Ana. “New customers, we’re giving them a discount so they can come and try us out. After that, we have a reward program. Every person who does 100 pounds of laundry, we give them $20 free service after that.”
Ana Chacon said Dino gives back to the local community.
“We’ve donated gift cards to local schools, PB Elementary and Bird Rock Elementary,” she said. “We’re trying to help the neighborhood.”
Ana praised her clientele.
“We have excellent customers, mostly locals,” added Chacon, who can be found in Dino during the morning doing laundry for her customers.
“We’re here for them,” she concluded. Dino Coin Laundromat
4977 Cass St.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
dinocoinlaundromat.com, 858-255-0898, 858-270-8410.
Visit Dino on Facebook @laundrypacificbeach and on Instagram @dinolaundromat.
