Vincent R. DeCicco was desperate for a fresh start the morning he wandered into Broadway Bubble Laundromat and Community Hub at 718 Broadway in Midtown Kingston. Legally blind, out of work, and homeless, DeCicco says the staff greeted him with compassion and offered him a cup of coffee and a place to hang out on that cold November day in 2022.
“I discovered it out of necessity,” says DeCicco, a lifelong Kingston resident. “I had spent the night at the warming center a few blocks away. We had to leave at 8 in the morning, so I was looking for a place to go.”
The laundromat, formerly known as Big Bubble (and as a den of drugs and alcohol), has been transformed into a multi-space neighborhood spot by NoVo in Kingston, a local arm of the NoVo Foundation, founded by Peter and Jennifer Buffett. New features include an indoor children’s play area with books and toys, a free coffee and snack nook, an adjacent 850-square-foot classroom, a computer lab for job seekers, and a spacious backyard for outdoor play and other community functions.
The space is adaptive to community needs and is designed and shaped by Kingston residents, says Jordan Scruggs, board chair of Kingston Midtown Rising, the asset-based community development program that operates it. “Our team tries to make sure the program is reflective of the community, so the question became, ‘How do we provide a service, like the dignity of clean clothes, and while you’re waiting for your laundry, do something meaningful for our community?’”
One of the most successful programs is the free weekly English class held in partnership with the Ulster Literacy Association; students from 17 countries have attended. There is also a recovery support group, cooking and nutrition classes taught by the Ulster County Cornell Cooperative Extension, and weekly Coffee and Crosswords for seniors.
At this time of year, the laundromat gets festive as it celebrates the holidays, including Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day.
At this time of year, the laundromat gets festive as it celebrates the holidays, including Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. “We do cookies and carols and hot chocolate. We realize that a lot of people are struggling, so we try to bring positivity and joy to our community,” says Jillian Pacheco, the community programming lead for Kingston Midtown Rising.
Broadway Bubble has hosted other events including a community baby shower, an Easter Egg hunt, a Mother’s Day tea, and a Father’s Day cookout. During summer, it partners with the Farm Hub, which makes weekly deliveries of freshly picked green beans, cucumbers, corn, and potatoes.
On top of everything, the staff at Broadway Bubble makes sure everyone, regardless of financial status, has access to clean laundry. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, dryers are free, and complimentary laundry detergent is always available.
“People really appreciate us, because we never turn anyone away,” says laundromat manager Enma Villacis. “If they can’t pay, they’re allowed to use the facilities at no charge. They spend two or three hours here and sometimes just drop by for coffee or to talk. It’s just a great neighborhood hangout spot.”
That proved true for DeCicco. Today, things are different for the once-homeless man. He’s found steady work and an apartment not far from Broadway Bubble, but he still visits the laundromat regularly to see the staff he considers family, whose compassion inspired him to find a better life.
“When I was at my lowest, they fed me, clothed me, and were there for me,” he says. They welcomed me, as they do everyone, regardless of their background. This place is great for the neighborhood.”
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