After a fire destroyed their laundry business, resilient owners re-open with gratitude 

Few people in Jasper clean up like Tony and Clara Adriano. 

The owners of Adriano Laundry Service were looking extremely sharp on June 7 at the grand re-opening of their business, but considering that only four months ago their laundromat was destroyed by fire and water damage, the transformation from soot to suit, and mess to dress, was nothing short of incredible. 

“Like the Phoenix, we’re reborn from the ashes,” Tony told well-wishers who helped he and Clara cut the ribbon on their revitalized enterprise. “Literally!”

Seven years ago this July, the Adrianos opened their commercial laundromat. They were a skeleton crew of family and friends, desperate to serve the few customers in Jasper that gave them their business in those early days.

“Over the years we grew as more local businesses started showing their trust,” Tony said. 

Eventually they were cleaning the linens, table cloths and aprons of 10 local hotels, seven small accommodation providers and a handful of restaurants.

“Last summer we were thriving,” Tony said.

That all changed on February 15, 2024. A fire started in a bin of rags. The fire was actioned by members of the Jasper Volunteer Fire Brigade, but the process of fighting the flames caused irreparable damage to the laundromat’s sensitive equipment. The incident left the laundromat inoperative, and the Adrianos feeling adrift.

“My wife and I were lost and not sure how to proceed,” Tony said.

Looking inward to their selves and finding strength in their spirituality, they decided to start again. They didn’t know it would require months of back and forth with insurance brokers and fire investigators.

“The last four months have been very challenging. It’s been difficult for my family and laundry staff,” Tony reflected.

But they persevered—for their family, their employees and for their community.

“The right thing to do was rebuild the laundry,” Tony said. “And in less than three months, what seemed impossible was made possible.”

It wouldn’t have been so without the help of his fellow business community members, Tony said. He singled out the Forabosco family as critical investors and the Jasper Brewpub for allowing them to use the Brewpub’s food prep building in the industrial park.

“With a grateful and joyous heart, we thank you all,” Tony said. 

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com