By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Jemison’s Suds R-Us Laundromat is set for a grand opening at 11 a.m. on Oct. 5 at its new location at 144 Highway 191.

Although the Laundromat will have had a “soft opening” on Sept. 29, allowing 24/7 service to customers, the grand reopening will feature a visit from the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce and a “light lunch” afterward — most likely barbecue, according to owner Tom Cuthbert.

Cuthbert said Suds R-Us is moving because the city needs the space to accommodate parking for the Marion Bank.

“The City of Jemison has been awesome in helping me to find a location and to move,” Cuthbert said. “Mayor Reed was instrumental and very helpful, along with Shannon Welch.”

Cuthbert said he bought Suds R-Us 21 years ago. The Laundromat had existed for years prior, and had at one time been the location of the city post office.

Cuthbert said he is excited about the changes to Suds R-Us.

The new Suds R-Us facility will feature several upgrades, Cuthbert said.

“We have a bigger facility, we have much better parking, we have much better street access and we’ve added some new and larger equipment. I’ve spent $50,000 on equipment upgrades throughout the process,” Cuthbert said, explaining that the new shop will offer a good mix of the old and the new.

“And we’ve completely remodeled it — new roof, new electric and plumbing, one new wall, we replaced the front. We tried to make it look like the old part of Jemison — put some old-time street lights on the outside of it.”

Cuthbert said some interior décor and lighting has been altered, as well.

“This has been an adventure,” Cuthbert said. “It’s not something I do everyday… and I think we have a product that everybody’s going to be happy with, and it will be an asset to the City of Jemison and the Suds R-Us community.”