Robert Simard and his wife, LeAnne, owned and operated Anytime Laundry for 14 years.
There are four locations, with one in Woodville, Onalaska and two in Livingston. All provide washing machines, dryers, wash and fold, dry cleaning, and drop-off services.
Robert and LeAnne, operating under Simard Enterprises, sold the four locations last July with the intention of retiring. Yet, the businesses have not been operational in the past few weeks.
“Currently, the situation is that we have locked them out for lack of payment,” Robert Simard said. “It may seem kind of ridiculous over a 30-day late period or whatever. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. They’re actually in arrears tens of thousands of dollars in the business loan. This was just another straw that broke the camel’s back as far as us having to lock it out.
“They’re making accusations that they’ve sent payments, yet they can’t prove it. We haven’t received it. And to this date, we still haven’t received it. They’re making it sound like we’re holding their clothes hostage, that they have no ability to get them to the customers.
“However, our attorney has reached out to their attorney and made suggestions on how we can go ahead. They have a van. They can come get the clothes and then distribute them out to their customers. But they’ve refused that offer, up to this point. So, our hands are tied.”
Simard said a couple of suggestions have been made on how to return the items to customers, all of which, he said, have been turned down. He said the owners could gather up all the dry cleaning and computers by use of a van, with the doors of the business then locked behind them.
“We have a process in place for the lockout, legally, under the Texas state law, state codes and the conditions of the lease agreement. We’ve done everything we can. We’ve offered every olive branch along the way. We sent them specific notices required. We expect payment by such and such a day, and it’s for this amount for each location. It was posted and signed by me, my wife, and dated and timed on the notice, and posted on the door of each location. They’ve since taken off those signs and posted a letter saying that, ‘We’re closed due to maintenance from Oct. 8 going forward or until further notice, sorry for any inconvenience.’
“Now, they have a different post on the door, stating that we are making false claims or whatever about them not paying their rent. But, we’ve got documents to the contrary that shows that, yes, they say they sent the payment, but it had not been received. So that means we never got it.”
Simard said he and his wife both have a connection with the customers after owning the businesses for well over a decade. They are hopeful all can receive their belongings soon.
“We were in business ourselves. We understand the frustration with homecoming and people’s funerals and that sort of thing that may have clothes in there. But legally, I cannot give those belongings away or collect any monies for those clothes, because it’s not my business. I only own the building. If I do any of those things, I am accused of theft.”
The current owners of Anytime Laundry have yet to return the Polk County Enterprise’s attempts to contact them. They have filed for a temporary restraining order against Simard Enterprises in Harris County. That, Simard said, was unsuccessful, and there is now an attempt to do the same in Polk County.
Simard said rent was due Oct 1, and once that was not received, a notice was sent after a three-day grace period. Locks were placed on the doors Oct. 7 for nonpayment. Those locks were attached under the advice of an attorney.
Doors were locked after hours at two locations, and the Simards allowed any customers that were doing clothing to finish at 24-hour locations. Afterward, locks were changed.
This isn’t the first time, Simard said, the payments have been late. He has offered direct deposit and other alternatives, but a few payments have not arrived by mail on time. The final time extended beyond the grace period. Simard said they also waited an additional day to see if the funds would arrive by mail.
“That, again, illustrates that we’ve given them every chance to rectify the problem. Even right now, all I can say is that we never got a response back from them directly as to any concerns or issues. If you’re late on your car for 60 days, they come take it. We’re over a period of time that’s longer than 60 days pertaining to the business loan.”
