Challenges Met: Division Unveils Refurbished Muskogee Plant

Division Laundry, a third-generation, family-owned healthcare and hospitality laundry services provider, announced a substantial capital investment to establish a new facility in Muskogee, OK. The project marks the opening of the company’s first plant in the Sooner State. The laundry is expected to create up to 100 new jobs as production expands.

At a Nov. 13 ribbon-cutting event outside the plant at 3300 S. 24th St. W., Division President and CEO Patrick Garcia thanked local officials and customers for supporting Division during a refurbishment effort that followed a May 2022 flood. Garcia said the experience reminded him of how his father, Peter, emerged from poverty in Mexico as the youngest of 17 children. In 1939, Peter founded a small laundry in Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Division grew from there, in line with the principles that Peter taught. “The rebuilding process (in Muskogee) gave my family the opportunity to reflect on my father’s wisdom, which not only built a successful business, but a legacy as well,” Patrick said. “My father instilled in me the pillars of his success. Deliver on your promises, and your quality must stand alone above all others. So our Garcia family lives these pillars.”

As for the Muskogee plant-rebuilding effort, Patrick emphasized the need for resilience. “In any business, we accept that there will be challenges,” he said, speaking under a tent a few hundred feet from the plant. “We anticipate and prepare for them as best as possible. Ultimately, we succeed by delivering on our promises and continuing to believe in our mission. And valuing the relationships that we build with our employees, our vendors that are here today, our clients and our community.”

The 50,000-square-foot (4,645-square-meter) site, spanning 10 acres, was refurbished after the flood, thanks to improvements funded by Division. The City of Muskogee and the Muskogee City-County Port Authority fully supported the project and worked collaboratively with Division to address infrastructure and site-readiness needs.

Division’s Oklahoma plant makes it the fourth facility that the company operates, along with plants in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Division bought the plant from J.M.B. Contracting, Maybank, TX. The previous owner, Superior Linen Service, Tulsa, OK, had opted to sell the facility, rather than rehabilitate it. Charlie Combs served as the plant’s general manager (GM) under Superior Linen Service. Today, he’s overseeing the same plant for Division. The process of making a video that chronicled the rehabilitation effort was profoundly moving for Combs, he said. “It brought tears to my eyes when I put together this video of our transition as we rebuilt this place. This place experienced a flood. Now we’ve refurbished it, and it’s flourishing today. So that’s awesome.”

Combs added that he’s convinced that drainage and other infrastructure improvements have dramatically reduced the plant’s vulnerability to floods. “This past year, we had the most rain we’ve had in over 20 years, and everything was completely fine,” he said. “We feel 100% secure in that aspect of it.”

After thanking the Port Authority and other local officials, Combs introduced a healthcare customer, Second Chief Del Beaver of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation. Beaver thanked Patrick for rehabilitating the plant, which now serves Creek healthcare facilities. “Mr. Garcia, I appreciate your hard work, being steadfast, your vision, and most of all, we appreciate your relationship,” Beaver said. “Because buildings are just buildings. But it’s relationships that last. It’s about caring for one another. What truly matters at the end of the day is that we lift each other up, and that we look out for one another, and we care for one another.” Beaver then led the attendees in a brief prayer.

Muskogee Mayor Patrick Cale added that he, too, appreciates Division’s commitment to refurbishing the plant. “We are proud to welcome Division Laundry to Muskogee,” Cale said during this event that drew roughly 70 people, including Division staff clad in black T-shirts. “Their investment reflects the confidence companies have in our city’s workforce and infrastructure. This project brings quality jobs, new opportunities and a long-term partner committed to excellence and community.”

With its Muskogee facility, Division aims to grow in Oklahoma, expanding its healthcare/hospitality service network while contributing to the city’s growth. “This expansion reflects both our company’s growth and our belief in the people and business climate here,” Patrick said. “We’re excited to be part of Muskogee’s future.”

His daughter, COO Theresa, then invited local officials and guests to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony near the plant’s front entrance. Local government, customer and company officials – flanked by guests and employees – stood under a blue sky as Patrick snipped a blue ribbon to formally open the plant.