Simply put, doing laundry is a chore.

But one Durango business is trying to make it a social event.

In November, Skyridge Soaps and Suds opened, bringing a new tavern to the Skyridge Gas Station & Liquor store at 100 Jenkins Ranch Road A, near Fort Lewis College.

The new establishment took over where Singletrack Coffee & Tea had been located. Singletrack closed in May 2023, leaving the space open.

“When I was in the Marine Corps in North Carolina, my wife went out with some friends. They took her to what she thought was a laundromat,” said Mike Waddy, owner of the new business. “But in the middle of the laundromat was a big circle bar. And at that point she was like, ‘This is a genius idea.’”

Waddy also owns the Skyline Gas Station & Liquor store which made the transition easy.

“When this space became available, we were like, ‘Let's go ahead and just pull the trigger,’” he said.

The nearest laundromats for residents of the SkyRidge area are Florida Laundry on Florida Road and College Plaza Laundry on East Eighth Avenue.

Waddy had spent time living on the mesa and had always been frustrated that he had to go into town to grab a drink. He also said people would be surprised to know how few homes have washers and dryers.

And even if they do have machines, often the equipment is not suitable for washing large pieces of bedding like king-size comforters.

“We'll have machines that are capable of doing that type of stuff here so they won’t have to go downtown,” Waddy said.

Washing machines and dryers should be installed within the next three months.

“(We) just kind of wanted it to be a place where anyone could come over,” he said.

The current business hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., but the opening time will likely change to 7 a.m. once the laundromat portion of the business opens. The bar will likely close no later than midnight.

Waddy said the business has already been a draw for college students, and he hopes to attract golfers from Hillcrest Golf Course.

tbrown@durangoherald.com