Who We Are
Steve and Vicky have lived in Tucson since 1998, and prior to enlisting in the Navy after high school, Steve grew up in the Old Pueblo where he graduated from CDO high school in 1988. Vicky grew up in NH, but moved around with Steve after marrying in 1992, and have since settled here to raise their two children, now 23 and 15 years old. We have always had a passion to own our own business and to also help others. Laundromat ownership has helped us fulfill this passion.
About us and how we got into the laundry business:
Being a laundry owner for the last 10 years has provided flexibility in raising our children, not being tied down to any one place for work. We can come and go with ease, having the flexibility to set our own hours, the ability to attend their children’s school activities and even coaching in youth sports. We’ve had the opportunity to follow other passions and callings in other areas, and in our case, we still have jobs and work.
For Stephen and Victoria Dotson, the owners of Tucson Laundry Centers on Pantano as well as Tucson Laundry Centers on Swan, it was the ability to continue to follow their passion for helping others. Stephen had spent a number of years in the U.S. Navy, retiring after 23 years of service, working as a nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs locally in Tucson, and now runs the two laundromats full time and looks for other business opportunities wherever they may be. Victoria currently works in the healthcare industry at a local Tucson hospital; she is a cardiac perfusionist, which is a specialized healthcare professional who uses the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and other procedures that require cardiopulmonary bypass. She works full time in this capacity and part time in the laundry business with Steve. She also helps students studying perfusion at the U of A hone their skills in the OR and in simulations as a clinical instructor and simulation developer, as well as sitting on the advisory board for this special program.
While owning a laundry is the couple’s first foray into business ownership, it definitely fits with their calling of being of service to others.
Victoria admitted that getting into the laundry business in the first place was mainly Stephen’s idea. “He did his research and, because we both had jobs, he didn’t want something that we would be tied to,” Victoria explained. “He spoke with some business owners and people he knew and found that many of them got their start with a laundry business. He found that you didn’t need to be 100% on premises with a laundromat, since there isn’t a lot of product to care for. We would still have the flexibility to continue in our work while running a rather self-sufficient business, with the help of a pleasant and helpful staff.” Having done their research and becoming comfortable with the idea of owning a laundry, the Dotson’s began their search for an existing store. Eventually, they found one they liked – The Laundry on Pantano (now Tucson Laundry Centers on Pantano)–and the entrepreneurial couple has now been in the laundry business since 2013. They added to their investment with the purchase of a new store in 2018, Tucson Laundry Centers on Swan and have worked tirelessly, investing into brand new equipment at that store, and now new updated equipment at Pantano as well. “Both were large investments,” Victoria said, “probably a bit larger than most people think.”
Both stores operate as coin self-service laundromats with an attendant always on duty. Since installation of USA made Dexter Laundry machines, they are able to offer debit/credit card payments at the point of sale (washer or dryer) using an app on the smart phone called DexterPay. This made a huge difference during the COVID-19 pandemic, so that customers did not need to touch money, and has served the couple well during the coin shortage due to the pandemic.
The full-service option at both locations accept payment by both credit card and cash. Both stores maintain an attendant at all hours of operation, and now beginning in 2023, we have partnered with HappyNest to offer pick up, wash, dry, fold, and delivery. Both stores offer all size machines, including our largest and newest Dexter equipment which accommodates 80lbs of laundry in one washer! All forms of commercial accounts are taken into consideration so give them a call if you have a need for laundry services, up to and including drop off and pick up.
Tucson Laundry Centers on Pantano is a 2,400-square-foot laundry – which is open from 7am to 10pm seven days a week with a last wash in by 8:30pm and a last drop off or pick up for full service by 9:00pm. Pantano features free Wi-Fi access and beverage and soap vending options. Machine sizes from top loaders to 8 loads! (80lbs). There are change machines and an independently run ATM as well. Tucson Laundry Centers on Swan is nearly a 2,000 square foot facility with machine sizes from top loaders to 8 loads in one machine (80lbs)! It is also fully attended with the same hours of 7am-10pm with last wash in by 8:30pm and last drop off and pick up by 9pm for full service. There is free Wi-Fi and a vending beverage machine available. There is a change machines on premises to turn those bills up to a $20 bill into quarters. An independently run ATM is available as well.
Thank you for reading about us, and please introduce yourself if you see us. We love our customers! We know you can go anywhere to get your laundry washed, but we always hope that you come to TLC, a locally owned, clean, and friendly laundromat
Thank you for visiting
Thank you for visiting our site and our laundromats. We hope you will come say hi and introduce yourselves if you ever see us servicing our stores. As always, thank you for your patronage. We hope to see you many more times, and we hope you let your neighbors know that this is a great place to get your laundry needs done, whether you use our self-service option our drop off full-service option, and now pick up and delivery services through a partnership with HappyNest, we thank you.
