San Antonio-based Division Laundry & Cleaners, Inc. announced it has acquired the Texas assets (commercial laundry facilities) of Angelica based in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. The transaction includes two facilities and their depots and allows the San Antonio company to expand into the Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma markets, according to a news release.
The expansion to two major Texas cities strengthens the company’s footprint in Texas. With this acquisition, the company expects to fill up to 200 additional positions at its San Antonio, Dallas and Houston facilities. The family owned business has approximately 250 employees.
“This acquisition strengthens our competitive edge since there are few family-owned businesses left in this sector, said President, Patrick R Garcia. “We have a stellar reputation in the San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi markets and the timing is right to move into Dallas and Houston.”
Division Laundry & Cleaners is the embodiment of the American Dream. The company was founded in 1939 by Peter G. Garcia, an immigrant from Mexico and the youngest of 17 children. He went from shining shoes and selling newspapers at the age of 8 in downtown San Antonio, to running an award-winning business where the third generation of the Garcia family is now firmly established.
In 2001, a fire destroyed its San Antonio facility but Division was able to recover due to its state-of-the art equipment that’s housed in a 47,000-square-foot facility in far Northwest San Antonio. It took the company two years to build a new home, but Division experienced a 500% growth in business soon after the rebuild. The company has consistently been awarded water conservation and environmental awards from San Antonio’s main water utility.
In Texas, the healthcare industry has been fueling growth in the commercial laundry business. Division Laundry & Cleaners also has experience servicing hospitality clients from a 250-room hotel to a massive 1,000-room convention center hotel property.
“From an economic standpoint, growth is important and it will strengthen our relationships with large healthcare systems, especially ones that exist in these other markets,” said Garcia. “This acquisition creates continuity of using one vendor, especially a well-established family business.”
