Laundry 2.0

David and Cheryl Walstad have tackled more than the recession in running a commercial dry cleaning and coin laundry service.

The couple also recently confronted what's potentially an entrepreneur's worst nightmare: a crippling fire.

That happened in April at the coin operated Laundromat they own on Bee Ridge Road, about five miles south of downtown Sarasota. The fire, ruled an accidental electrical blaze, destroyed more than $350,000 in machines and equipment. Although insurance covered the financial loss, it was still a harrowing experience. The Walstads, in fact, worked 20 hours straight, out of a U-Haul trailer in a parking lot, to organize linens and materials that weren't destroyed for the commercial service. Says Dave Walstad: “We have a real sense of community there.”