Built on faith, family, and a second chance

My name is Justin Simmons, and this laundromat is part of a deeply personal story.

In July 2020, during the height of the pandemic, my father, Saint, and I purchased J&S Laundry together. The world was uncertain. Businesses were closing. Families were under pressure. No one knew what the next few months would bring, much less the next several years.

Buying a laundromat at that moment was a risk.

For us, it was also an act of faith.

A business that changed my life

Before becoming a laundromat owner, I worked as an engineer and imagined a very different future for myself. Then life changed.

I am DeafBlind due to Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that causes progressive vision and hearing loss. At 27, I lost my ability to drive because of my vision loss. That loss was devastating — driving had represented freedom, independence, and control over my own life.

I went from being employed and self-sufficient to unemployed and uncertain about what would come next. That period was humbling, frustrating, and frightening. I had to reconsider my career, my independence, and the kind of life I could build.

Owning a laundromat gave me a path forward. It gave me purpose again. It restored a measure of independence. It gave me the opportunity to build something meaningful while serving the community around me.

Laundry may seem ordinary to some people. For me, it became a second chance.

Built with my father

My father, Saint, has been part of this journey from the beginning. Purchasing the laundromat together during one of the most uncertain periods in recent history gave our family a new mission.

We had to learn the business, improve the store, serve customers, solve problems, and keep moving forward even when the work was difficult. We made mistakes, learned from them, reinvested in the business, and continued believing that the laundromat could become something greater.

There is something powerful about building a business with family. It requires patience, trust, persistence, and a willingness to keep showing up. The work is not always glamorous, but it is meaningful.

What began as a shared risk became a shared legacy.

From J&S Laundry to Celebrity Laundry

J&S Laundry was the name we inherited from the previous owner. Despite the coincidence, it was not named after Justin and Saint. That would have made a perfect origin story, but the truth is less tidy.

For years, we kept the name because our priority was to operate the business, serve customers, and improve the store. After years of learning and reinvesting, the business was ready for an identity that reflected the experience and future we wanted to create.

J&S Laundry became Celebrity Laundry.

We chose the name because we believe every customer deserves to feel valued. Laundry is a necessity, but the experience does not have to feel basic, impersonal, or neglected. Customers should be able to enter a clean, welcoming, well-run laundromat and feel respected.

Our belief is simple: everyone deserves the star treatment.

A place where everyone is welcome

Celebrity Laundry is proudly owned by a disabled, DeafBlind, Black, gay business owner. That is part of our story because representation matters.

This business is not about excluding anyone. It is about making sure everyone knows they belong here. Families are welcome. Seniors are welcome. Disabled customers are welcome. LGBTQ+ customers are welcome. Working people are welcome. Business owners are welcome. Parents are welcome. Students are welcome. Caregivers are welcome. Immigrants are welcome.

People having a difficult week are welcome. People who simply need clean clothes and less stress are welcome.

No judgment. No attitude. Just clean clothes and a better experience.

Building a legacy

Celebrity Laundry reflects years of work, reinvestment, and belief in what this business can become. We have improved the store, expanded services, invested in equipment, and created new ways to serve households, businesses, and community organizations.

This work is also about family. My husband, Rick, and I welcomed our son, Julian, in April 2025. Becoming a father strengthened my determination to build a business that can support my family, serve Columbus, and create opportunity for years to come.

I am not only building a laundromat. I am building stability, independence, and legacy. What began as a leap of faith during the pandemic became a business rooted in resilience, family, service, and ambition.

Celebrity Laundry is the next evolution of that story.