WaveMAX's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In December, Michelle Robinson graduated from the city’s program for new entrepreneurs. Last week, she and her husband Jazz Stair celebrated the grand opening of WaveMAX, their new laundromat in Quinnipiac Meadows.
Robinson, who chose to relocate to New Haven to open the business, was a student of the city’s DNA of an Entrepreneur program, offered through the city’s Small Business Resource Center. The program helps train and financially support both new and current entrepreneurs. She’s one of 16 — out of a total of 74 — graduates in the past year to open their own business already.
At a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, city officials and community members gathered at 466 Foxon Blvd and, amid sleek, silver washers and dryers, celebrated WaveMAX’s grand opening. The laundromat itself is part of a national franchise.
Following remarks from Cathy Graves, the city’s deputy director of economic development, and Mayor Justin Elicker about the importance of small businesses and local entrepreneurship, Robinson and Stair shared a few words.
Stair said that, for him, it was important to open a business that would make a difference in people’s lives. “We’ll always be friendly. We’ll always be clean. That’s non-negotiable,” he promised local customers.
Robinson thanked the customers who have already used the business’ services, as well as the staff and the Small Business Resource Center
“I encourage anyone else in the community that may have that entrepreneurial spirit and just not sure of how to go about it, look them up,” she said. “It’s an amazing program.”
Dunn Pearson, a marketing instructor with the Small Business Resource Center, was also in attendance.
“We don’t want to go anywhere but WaveMAX laundry! One more time — WaveMAX laundry!” he chanted alongside cheers and applause.
what a clean article!