Crown (FL) Grows Again – This Time in Haines City

Crown Linen LLC, Miami, will open a fourth hospitality laundry in the Sunshine State next month, this time southwest of Orlando in Haines City, according to news reports.

“We’re seeing a lot of growth in hospitality west of Orlando,” said Pablo Lucchesi, managing partner of Crown, which recently opened another laundry near Ft. Myers. “Haines City is strategically located in the Tampa/Orlando Corridor.”

The new plant will employ about 60 people when operations begin in April. At full capacity, the 72,000-square-foot laundry is expected to employ a staff of 300, the reports said.

Local officials were delighted to have this new business entity in their midst, and they made it clear to Lucchesi that Crown was most welcome. “We talked to Pablo and asked him exactly what we needed to do,” said Cyndi Jantomaso, president and CEO of the Haines City Economic Development Council (EDC). “The gods were here and this is the place they needed to be.” Haines City is located about 39 miles southeast of Orlando; roughly 61 miles west of Tampa.

Lucchesi said the outreach efforts by local officials played an important role in his company’s decision to locate in Haines City. “One of the reasons we’re here is they’ve been very helpful in getting this project going,” he said. “They’ve really been extraordinary.”

Mayor Kenneth Kipp said the move showcased the success of local efforts by the EDC and others to ensure a “business friendly climate” in Haines City. “The EDC has done great work in helping make this possible,” Kipp said. “They’re already talking expansion and that’s great news to us.” Click here for details.