Local Laundromat at Center of Controversy

[Updated] A local laundromat that temporarily closed following an alleged racist rant by its owner and an ensuing protest this past weekend could soon have a new owner.

On Monday, a man who picked up the phone at the number listed Fair Oaks Laundry on Monday said the business is “temporarily closed and is undergoing a change of ownership.”

According to posts on Facebook and Twitter, and a story first reported by the Pasadena Black Pages, Fair Oaks Laundry owner Gary Thompson was allegedly caught on video excoriating a woman because she had a Black Lives Matters sticker on her car.

“I’m not racist, you’re racist. Get that car out of here. All lives matter,” the man yelled. “You’re Japanese do you know your history?”

The man, reported to be Thompson, also told the woman to “get that shit out of here.”

A Pasadena Police Department spokesperson told Pasadena Now on Monday, “The department is aware of the comments made by the owner of the laundry mat and have been monitoring social media posts as it relates to the situation.”

On Saturday, a peaceful protest was moved from La Pintoresca Park to focus on the business and social media posts called on local residents not to spend money at the business.

He did not say when the business would be reopened.

The Black Lives Matter slogan has reemerged since the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minnesota.

Protests, and in some cases riots, have been held in all 50 states. At least five protests have been held in Pasadena, all of them have been peaceful.