Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Willette.
Hi Megan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
2014- Husband was a Re/Max broker and we were looking for a commercial building so that the Re/Max agents could rent from us instead of from a 3rd party.
Purchased building in Spring 2014; the future laundromat area was unoccupied office space.
I did my cousin’s laundry for $1 a basket when I was a teenager, so after considering franchises we decided to build a 24-7 coin laundry. which we opened September 2014.
Husband passed in a motorcycle accident in Aug, 2015.
The quote of “find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work another day in your life” fits me perfectly.
I have a side-gig of washing horse blankets and a couple commercial accounts at the laundry. I am landlord for the office spaces. I clean, fix, do bookwork, and take care of business. In my personal time, I am a cowgirl. I ride, compete and love my 3 horses. My 2 children and 2 bonus sons from my husband have all grown into amazing adults and I am close to all of them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Having my husband pass 11 months after opening the laundromat was a huge change I didn’t ask for.
The learning curve to be a landlord and repairperson was frustrating and challenging. Amazing people in my life supported, trained, and helped me figure things out.
We’ve been impressed with Saint Peter Laundry Co, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
CLEAN and MAINTAINED self-service laundromat is open 24 hours a day. Partially attended and I do my best to respond to customer questions and concerns via text or call when no attendant is available. My goal is for the laundry to be well lit and safe for all.
Laundry Love is a church-sponsored program which I donate 10% and help facilitate. Laundry Love is a program that helps low-income individuals and others with laundry-coin and detergent gifts provided by donations. Locally I partner with Holy Communion Episcopal Church in St. Peter. Before Covid they did in-person events as noted in Free Press article Feb 9, 1019.
Community Resources bring in special-needs people to mop and clean for 1hour every Tuesday morning. Their staff manage and train the individuals and have been providing this great service since 2017. The individuals earn more than minimum wage and the staff is paid through a state program.
I have a good relationship with local law enforcement – from them helping me with random problems to allowing them access to indoor and outdoor security camera footage.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Solar panels were installed April 2025. Applied for and received a USDA grant. The building’s steel roof was perfect for the low profie panels.
Technology in payment systems – since I opened in 2014 the technology has improved and changed. I see that as an opportunity for the next owner to update.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saintpeterlaundry.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintpeterlaundry
