38th Street Laundry

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. It was an unusually quiet Sunday morning when a delivery driver pulled up to 38th Street Laundry. The sun had barely risen over the city, and the neighborhood was still asleep. As he unloaded boxes of detergent, he noticed something odd—an old man in a trench coat was watching him from across the street. The old man nodded discreetly, then turned away as if nothing unusual had happened. Curious but not alarmed, the delivery driver finished his task and left. Months later, while folding laundry one evening, the owner found an ancient coin hidden inside a box of fabric softener—a quirky little gift, perhaps, from that mysterious neighbor.

2. It was an unusually quiet Sunday afternoon when a little girl, holding her mom’s hand, pointed excitedly towards the laundry. ‘Mom,’ she whispered, ‘why does that washing machine spin so fast?’ Her mother smiled and said softly, ‘That’s because it’s working extra hard today, honey.’ The little girl nodded thoughtfully, then asked curiously, ‘Does it get tired?’ A nearby delivery driver overheard their conversation and chuckled, replying with a wink, ‘Only when you forget to put in enough quarters!’

3. It was a typically sleepy Monday morning in Chicago when a delivery driver pulled up to 38th Street Laundry with a peculiar package. As he approached the door, he noticed an old man folding clothes in the corner, humming softly and occasionally muttering something about 'the best-laundered socks in town'. Finally, the delivery driver left, but not before overhearing the old man say, ‘These socks will be so clean even their grandmas won’t recognize them!’ Later that day, a neighbor stopped by for some pressing and asked if they could add a special touch—‘maybe a little magic?’ The laundromat became known around town as the place where your clothes came back not just clean, but slightly enchanted.

4. It was an unseasonably warm autumn night when a delivery driver pulled up to 38th Street Laundry with a heavy box of shirts. As he unlocked the door, a familiar scent wafted through the air—something between fresh linen and old secrets. As he opened the box, a soft humming came from inside—a tune nobody recognized but everyone seemed to know. The shirts started folding themselves into perfect creases, whispering ancient jokes in the dim light. A regular passing by heard the laughter and smiled, thinking it was just another late-night prank from the friendly neighborhood laundry.