Buying a Laundromat

Question

I was recently offered to purchase a laundromat in a non-Jewish neighborhood. The business consists of a number of washing machines and dryers that are coin-operated. It sounds like a good investment and I would like to go ahead with it. However, this operation is open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. My question is: What should I do about Shabbos?

Thank you.

A. D.

Rav Auerbach 

You may certainly go ahead with this deal and I give you my brocha that it should bring you parnassah to support you and your family. However, in order to avoid any issues of hilchos Shabbos, you should make a contract with a non-Jew to purchase the laundromat for the duration of Shabbos. You should collect all the money from the machines before Shabbos, and whatever income comes in from Friday afternoon until Motzoei Shabbos will belong to the non-Jew. There is an additional issue of maris ayin. The sign on the store should only say “laundromat” and not mention anything about your ownership or imply that there is anything Jewish about this business.