The Norman Transcript

— By Randall Turk
Transcript Business Editor
The longest “laundry chute” in Norman can swallow maybe two or three cars.

Last week Walden Cleaners opened a fourth location at 1224 Alameda St. The new facility features a fully enclosed drive through service window to protect customers from the elements when they drop off and retrieve their garments.

“We wanted to make doing business as quick and convenient as possible,” said owner Freddie Walden. “Our customers are not just numbers,” he said. “That’s why we put their names, not numbers in their clothes.”
Walden Cleaners has other stores at 202 N. Flood Ave. and 1211 36th Ave. NW. The central drycleaning plant, 505 Highland Parkway, also offers drive through service.

The rapid growth of east side neighborhoods in recent years convinced the Waldens they needed the fourth location, on the southeast corner of 12th Avenue and Alameda Street, to better serve the entire city. “We had offers to rent space in a shopping center, but we wanted to do this right,” Walden said.

To celebrate the new store, the company is offering special discounts on drycleaning through Sept. 23.

The third-generation family business actually began on the east side, Walden said. “My dad, Jess Walden, my mom, Vivian and an uncle, Fred Evans operated the first Walden’s laundry at 121 N. Porter Ave. Mom and dad bought out uncle Fred in 1933.”

Freddie and his wife, Carolyn, took over the business in 1971. Their son, Tonny, and his wife, Sara have joined the business. A grandchild, Kaden, and another on the way could be the fourth generation Walden reinforcements.

In the annual “Best of Norman” survey, Walden Cleaners has been voted No. 1 drycleaner by Norman Transcript readers.

Freddie Walden says he is the first to embrace any new technology to clean things better or make customers happier. He was among the first wave of the baby boomer generation to accept computers for their usefulness in creating order from chaos — from keeping track of clothes to keeping the laundry’s books.

At the drycleaning plant, laundry is separated into six categories to prevent color fade. Permanent heat-sealed name tapes are put in garments so drive-up customers can get faster service. But sometimes older technology is better, Walden has found.

The laundry still uses an antique starch cooker to make consistently smooth starch. There is no substitute for cornstarch as a sizing element for shirts and other pressables, Walden has found.

The laundry keeps two full-time drivers busy with pickup and delivery service. All customers can get one-day service, by request.

Spotted or stained garments will require more attention. “Some spots just take time to remove the old fashioned way,” Walden said. “We always try to do our best in the shortest time possible.”

Because the Walden Cleaners central plant is here, turnaround time for laundry and drycleaning is probably the best in the business, Walden said. “Your clothes never leave Norman.”