the Laundromat Co-op.
There were a wide variety of crafts. I made handwrought jewelry and silk screened t-shirts. Patti made embroidered jean dresses. They also worked with the Atlanta Art Institute to offer hippies classes in marketable crafts such as silk- screening and jewelry-making. Craftspeople sold what they made through the store. The Laundromat opened to provide a non-profit outlet for community-produced goods. About twenty people opened the Laundromat as a cooperative in which all decisions would be made together. Community residents could sell their wares through the Laundromat with only a 10% charge for overhead.
In a small world detail, Shar, formerly Charlotte, a woman I had dated in high school became the Laundromat store manager! Two people from a small town in the big city.
I remember that place! I was called Rachael (O’Leary) & had arrived from Cocoa, FL Labor Day weekend 1969 at 14. I remember getting free clothes at Atlantis Rising, and vaguely thinking The Laundromat was either right next door, or at least same side of street & not far away. I worked at Chili Dog Charlie’s in late Oct and early Nov for a few weeks before heading out in a VWBug with 2 guys, a gal and her poodle to make it to The Haight for the Free Stones concert at Altamonte. I knew Mouse & ran into him a few days after getting to SF. I don’t recall many other names. I had a gal pal in the fall of ’70 named Cody who liked to eat her cigarette ashes (strange memories that stick, eh?).
But yeah, I remember all that art work and cool stuff in there. And the colors inside were just so vivid! Probably cuz of all the Indian bedspreads! hahaha…
Most Importantly I need to ask. Was Charlotte’s last name Runyon by any chance? I somehow got fake ID of a Charlotte Runyon from somewhere in Oklahoma that I’d taken out to SF with me during the trip. I turned myself into Chea (Shay) out in SF as a result of having that ID. Doubt it’s the same person, though.
Also trying to see if anyone remembers Judy Bates and her brother, my boyfriend in parts of 1969 & 1970, Wade Bates. Really tall, both of them, and very hairy! hahaha!
Was the VW bug black with peace signs painted on it with house paint?