It is inconspicuous at first glance — the squat building labeled “SOAP” at 900 Oblate Dr. But as the sliding glass doors split its window-clad façade, a modern and vibrant laundromat unlike any other in the city is unveiled: Soap Laundry Lounge.
An even more unexpected sight is the business owner: award-winning country music star Emily Strayer of The Chicks, who detailed the lounge’s origins.
“I did not think in a million years I would be doing something like this,” Strayer revealed. “As with most things in my life, they’ve just kind of presented themselves at different times, and this was a project that was inspired initially from just the want to do some commercial real estate with my husband, since we both travel for work a lot and we’re both in the music industry.”
Soap Laundry Lounge boasts a sleek, modern interior full of soft, pale grays and machinery of brushed and polished silver. Contrasting beautifully is a bright orange tiled cafe with spherical light fixtures above. Warm, deep green hanging lights and potted plants dot the laundromat, adding a cozy touch.
“I knew I wanted the interiors to set our business apart from other laundromats,” she shared. “I partnered with Föda, who are a design team in Austin, initially just to do the branding, but then I found out they had an interior team as well. So we just put our heads together, and this is what came of it.”
The design is not only what distinguishes Soap Laundry Lounge; its cafe menu does as well. While it features the typical coffees and teas, the selection is graced by seasonal items developed by the staff.
“I really let our baristas and my manager, Heather, go on their own tangents and try things out, and they do a lot of research and see what people are offering around San Antonio and what has been popular,” Strayer explained. “We like to experiment. We like to be seasonal, and we like to have something new every time someone comes in.
“When we have team meetings, we pick everybody’s brain, we want everyone to put their two cents worth in and come up with ideas of their own.”
The laundromat works with Scratch Kitchen to supply its cafe with an array of delicious pastries. Its collaboration with fellow businesses does not end there, as its laundry powder is made in alliance with an outside company, and its cleaning supplies are sourced from a community member.
“I happen to know Catherine Hicks at Organic Chicks, who does a ton of wonderful green products. We use her counter spray and her spot cleaner for the laundry side of things,” Strayer mentioned. “I think shopping local and having collabs with local vendors and other businesses is important to us, for sure.”
As Strayer and her team develop fruitful relationships outside the laundromat, inside, they cultivate a wonderfully pleasant place for San Antonians to do a mundane chore. Despite the rows and walls of washing machines and dryers, they are never louder than a light hum. Music plays at a similarly quiet level. While the patrons’ clothes tumble away, they can browse a book or magazine lying about, watch one of the many flat screen televisions lining the walls or play one of the many board games stacked in the built-in shelves of the back wall.
“I had no idea it would be such a community hub that it’s become, and we have regulars, we have people who come in and are looking for certain team members or have a rapport with them, people walking in from their homes all over the neighborhood just to get their morning coffee,” Strayer noted. “It’s the community aspect of it that it doesn’t feel like we’re at work all that much. We’re just kind of doing our job, and the hangout is pretty nice.”
Costs can add up quickly at Soap Laundry Lounge between washing, drying, treats from the cafe and the vending machine of laundry paraphernalia. Thankfully, Strayer is offering discounts and deals to UT San Antonio students who stop by.
Students who sign up for the first time can get $5 added to their laundry cards and up to 15% discounted purchases made on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more updates, follow Soap Laundry Lounge on their Instagram @soaplaundrylounge.
