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Show 6 Friday, March Sun Advocate, Price, Utah 19, 1982 left took over the Angelo Georgedes, right, has operated his laundry business for over 62 years at the same location on Carbon Avenue. His son John, business in 1962 and is carrying on the family business and tradition. People and God have been good to me and try to be good to I them in return." . ; ; I Photography and Story AL HARTMANN Most people recognize the colorful green and red neon lights that decorate the outside of the original building on Carbon Avenue. Inside, stacks of towels and linens wait to be delivered in the morning. equipment and have changed immensely throughout the past 60 years but Angelo Georgedes Laundry materials laundry business and personal philosophy have not. Georgedes is no stranger to longtime area residents. Hes been cleaning, pressing and delivering clothes since 1919. Georgedes, an immigrant from Mytelene, a Greek island, immigrated to Sunnyside in 1910. At this time many Greeks left their homeland in search of a new challenge and hopefully a better life. At 12, he started what was to be a very short education in the American school system in Sunnyside. With almost no command of the English language, he was harrassed and pushed into fights with local boys until he could stand it no longer. I couldnt understand what the boys were shouting, but I did un- derstand Greek." G-d- amn He then went to work for his brothers in their barbershop and pool hall shining shoes and learning how to hustle pool. After a disastrous attempt at farming in Sanpete County with his brothers and a few years at mining in Kenilworth, he finally settled into a successful business venture. In 1919, he bought half interest in his brother-in-law- s laundry business at 24 N. Carbon Ave. where the Price Laundry and linen Supply still operates today. During the depression when most businesses were failing, Georgedes thrived. According to Georgedes, he had the longest laundry route in the world. His route meandered through Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona, covering 1,400 miles each trip. He secured laundry contracts for 28 out of 35 Civilian Conservation Corp Camps in the southwest. He promised one week service and managed to do just that. Laundry was picked up, driven to Price, cleaned and pressed in two days and back on the road and to its owners within seven days. With 60 years in business, Georgedes has earned the respect and friendship of many people. Shouts of bigotry and being pushed off the sidewalk on Main Street because he was Greek have long since stopped. Georgedes has a business philosophy that also guides his personal life. I treat In my business and everybody equal give them the best thats in me," he said. In 1962, Angelo went into and turned his lifes business over to his son, John. However, he still continues to come into work at 5 a.m. to start semi-retireme- nt the early morning chores. During the peak of Georgedes business, he had 29 employees working for him. Today with only six employees and automation, his son John turns out much more work. Both father and son value hard working and reliable employees. John Copfer Sr. started with Georgedes before the depression and continued to be his right hand man for 44 years. I figure Id better treat my employees good because theyre my bread and butter, Georgedes said. The Georgedes laundry business has had its ups and downs. At one time, Georgedes had the biggest chunk of the laundry business in the state with four laundries and the first laundromat in the state. business serves as the the Today coin-operat- ed areas linen cleaner for restaurants and specializes in cleaning work shirts and uniforms. When I started over 60 years ago, I didnt know a damn thing about the laundry business, Georgedes said, laughing. I was on the ball back then, he said. I was young and I loved to be challenged. It appears Georgedes met the challenges and has passed his philosophy on to the next generation. Employees I illie Flores, left, and Vera Marston feed a tablecloth Into the that dries and irons the larger items. giant machine i i |