A Family’s Journey to Revitalizing a Community Staple: Family Affair Laundromat
Inspired by their parents’ entrepreneurial journey, Darnessa Hill, Pamela Holder, Trina Scott, and their husbands, Michael, Antonio, and Elgin, took the plunge into business ownership after receiving a call that a local laundromat in their community of Long Beach, MS that had been closed for years was finally selling the business. “We were looking for something to be involved with as siblings, and since we already knew about the laundromat business and knew it had been profitable for our parents, we couldn’t pass on the opportunity to continue the family business,” said Darnessa.
The siblings knew their journey to business ownership would have its challenges as the building had not been renovated since the damages of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The loan from RCLF allowed the family to fully renovate the building and provide a new safe, clean, and welcoming space for the community. “Business started slow, but once people knew who we were, they got excited for the laundromat to be open again. We got great feedback from our customers that we are in a good place where they feel safe. With the amount of people coming in, we know our laundromat was needed in the community,” said Darnessa.
When asked about having a family-owned business, Darnessa revealed it is not without its challenges. With six heads full of ideas and schedules to match, group chats and long meetings became the norm while the siblings worked out the logistics. “At the end of the day, we are family and we are used to working with each other. We are learning about everything together and have each other to rely on,” said Darnessa.
Looking ahead, the siblings dream of expanding their venture in the next 5-7 years, potentially dedicating themselves full-time post-retirement. In advising others interested in similar entrepreneurial paths, they don’t hesitate to recommend RCLF—the organization that guided them and their parents through understanding business essentials like profit and loss and helped them secure favorable financial rates to kickstart their enterprise. Their story is a testament to the power of family, community, teamwork, and the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels small business owners across the country.
