Former Hawaii first lady Vicky Cayetano is in talks to expand her laundry business on Oahu.
Cayetano confirmed Wednesday that she is finalizing negotiations for her business, United Laundry Services Inc., to buy Young Laundry & Dry Cleaning. Cayetano said she is looking to close the sale by the end of the month.
“We are excited to have this iconic brand as part of our portfolio,” she said, noting Young Laundry has been in business for more than 100 years.
Young Laundry’s name won’t be changed after the sale closes, Cayetano said.
“Under the United Laundry flagship, the name and the company will continue to be a part of our community,” she said.
Cayetano said no decision has been made regarding whether all of Young Laundry’s locations on Oahu will remain open.
Young Laundry, which provides dry cleaning services for individuals and businesses, has locations in Kapolei, Mililani, Kalihi Kai, Downtown, Nuuanu, Manoa, Kaneohe and Kahala.
Whether Young Laundry’s 70 employees will continue working with the company is still undecided.
“We anticipate that most of them will join us,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano declined to share how much United Laundry would be paying for Young Laundry, saying, “It’s not finalized yet.”
Cayetano co-founded United in October 1987. The company now employs 590 people who provide laundry and dry cleaning services to 50 hotels, 13 hospitals, and 40 clinics on Oahu and in Kona.
While under Cayetano’s leadership, United changed ownership in 2016.
Las Vegas-based PureStar Linen Group, which owns 18 commercial laundry facilities on the mainland and operates in Mexico and the Bahamas, bought United in July.
Cayetano, who is a partner at PureStar, continued as president and chief executive officer for the Honolulu and Kona operations.
