From 1929 to 1944, The Grove Laundry in Pacific Grove, California, was owned by Harold W. Thompson. Mr. Thompson and his wife Clare lived at 743 Mermaid Avenue near the Monterey Bay shoreline. The laundry was located downtown at 462-472 Lighthouse Avenue.

In January 1944, Henry Kissenger of Santa Rosa, who owned a laundry chain, bought the Grove Laundry. Kissinger continued to operate The Grove Laundry through the 1950s.

By 1941, the De Luxe Laundry at 311 Forest Avenue opened as the second laundry in Pacific Grove. It was owned and operated by Max Garces.

Some sources for the above information:

Polk's Salinas, Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel City Directories, 1930-1951 (includes advertisement for Grove Laundry).

Donald Howard, The Old Pacific Grove Retreat: A Business-Biography History, 1875-1940 Author, 1999), p. 300.

I hope the above information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Dennis Copeland
Archivist

Coordinator, California History Room & Archives
Monterey Public Library
City of Monterey
625 Pacific Street
Monterey, CA 93940
California History Room is open Sunday through Saturday
(Archives: by appointment Sunday through Thursday)
Tel.: (831) 646-3741
Fax: (831) 646-5618
Email: copeland@ci.monterey.ca.us