Every month, people come to The Laundry looking to wash clothes. That's because the art gallery, café and creative space at 3359 26th Street (near Capp) still retains much of its identity as a laundromat, at least on the outside.

Opened to the public last year, The Laundry is the brainchild of tech entrepreneur Sara Ahmadian. Decorated in a mishmash of vintage furniture, the space has already hosted several community events.

For decades, the building was a family-owned laundromat run by the Lacrout family. In 1970, it was sold to another French family before being purchased by Ahmadian in late 2013. Remodels for the space took close to three years, with most of the time spent excavating the basement.

Ahmadian has worked to retain some of the building's original history, even partnering with local designer Kioni Cho to create farm-style tables made out of the original floorboards. 

The 6,000-sq.-ft. space was opened with community in mind, with a calendar filled with dinners, concerts and yoga. Comedy and open mic nights also happen monthly.

Ahmadian said the inspiration behind The Laundry was to provide a hub in one of the city's most diverse neighborhoods where creatives could come to express themselves and openly share their work. She compared it to a washing machine, where many colorful clothes can mingle and spin. 

Last month, Reiki masters led a group in meditation, and recently, local chefs were also honored at an event called Sacred Kitchens: Honoring Immigrants and Food, held in reaction to Trump’s immigration ban.  

Ahmadian, who hails from Iran, said events like Sacred Kitchens are especially personal. The evening also included refugee teens from Oakland High School, and all proceeds from the event were donated to the school. 

The Laundry periodically hosts and sponsors artists through various nonprofit outlets, offering creative spaces for them to work. Guests can enjoy locally-roasted 3-19 Coffee, or stay for a small menu of Italian entrees—which include pasta, pizza, and salads—served 6-10pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

This week, on June 29th and 30th, The Laundry will host a free two-day event in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month with the nonprofit I Am An Immigrant. Stop in for a film screening, trainings and a panel with immigrant leaders in the tech community—but leave the laundry at home.