The Laundry Building
3108 E Olympic Ave
Built: 1906
Listed on the Spokane Register of Historic Places
Built by local blacksmith Charles Carr in 1906, this two-story concrete block structure became the home of the Hillyard Hand Laundry — one of the earliest Asian-owned businesses in the area. Operated for decades by Japanese immigrants Y. Tanaka, R. Nakashima, and H. Sato, the building speaks to the neighborhood’s long-standing ties to immigrant labor, small business, and working-class grit.
While its function evolved over the years — including stints as a dry cleaner, bookstore, and community gathering spot — the building remains one of the few in Hillyard to retain its original façade. Even the parapet roofline and storefront details still echo its early 20th-century form. The building is considered a “contributing property” within the Hillyard Historic Business District and was added to the Spokane Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Sources for Further Reading
Spokane Register Listing: Hillyard Laundry
National Register District Nomination PDF (p. 21): Hillyard Historic District
Article: Spokesman Review, 2008 - “Laundry building has colorful past”
Photo Sources:
Article: Spokesman Review, 2008 - “Laundry building has colorful past”
