Founded in Culver City in 1977

Mordecai and Bob showing off early 1980's Wascomat

North Hollywood 1988

Mordecai's Invention

Steam Injected Sample Dying Washer (Adaptation of W-124)

Mordecai & Elaine Varsano 

with Service Staff in 1990

(L-R) Nick, Steve, Elaine, Jonathan, Lauren, Norma, & Ron (front) at Automated Laundry Systems at 444 S.Victory Bl in Burbank in 1998

COMPANY PROFILE

E-Mail: Vepo@pacbell.net

Phone Numbers: SFV: (818) 556-6432

                             Toll free: (800) 423-8045

                             Fax: (818) 556-6242

Address: 120 W. Cypress Ave., Burbank CA 91502

Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Directions: Interstate 5 South: Exit Alameda, go west, right on Victory

  Interstate 5 North: Exit Olive or Alameda, go west.

  Highway 134 East: Exit Victory, turn left.

  Highway 134 West: Exit go to 5 Northbound.

  Highway 101 South: take 134 East.

  Highway 101 North: Exit Barham, Right on Barham, Barham   turns into Olive, Stay on Olive until Victory ( Approximately    3 miles), Right on Victory Blvd.

Motto: "Quality and Dependability Is Our Business"

History: Mordecai Varsano founded Automated Laundry Systems, Incorporated  in July of 1977. Working out of a small brick building in Culver City, Automated quickly became a leader in commercial laundry equipment distribution. As one of the original Wascomat authorized dealers, Automated helped popularize the front load washer in southern California. 

     By 1983, with numerous sales awards under his belt, Mr. Varsano expanded his facility by acquired two adjacent properties. He built two warehouse/office buildings on the new property and consequently tripled his company's space.  The extra work area allowed Automated to expand its service business and start refurbishing used equipment.  

     As the lucrative 1980's rolled on, Automated was in need of even more space, so they expanded to a cavernous location in North Hollywood in 1988. Automated now had a full refurbishing center, steel base manufacturing, service diagnosis area, ample warehouse, showroom, and office space. 

     As the California economy slowed in the early 1990's, Automated sought new sources of revenue by expanding into the apartment laundry route business. Automated Apartment Laundry would become the division run by Automated's newest employee, Jonathan Varsano. Mordecai's son also added a business economics degree and a real estate broker's license to the staff.  As the 1990's progressed, Automated continued to develop it five major divisions: Equipment Sales, Parts Sales, Service, Laundromat Brokerage, and Apartment Routes.  

     Due to changing economic times and corporate strategy, the Varsano family decided to expand their real estate investments and move the company to a new location in Burbank. With this move the Varsano family (dba JEM Investments) owned and managed the original three buildings in Culver City, the second facility in North Hollywood, the new Burbank headquarters, and several other commercial properties in the Los Angeles area. Tragically, a few months after moving to Burbank and exactly twenty years after forming Automated Laundry Systems, Mordecai Varsano passed away at the age of 64.  

     Jonathan Varsano carried on as the new president and stablized the company over coming months. In April of 1998, after over twenty years of employment as bookkeeper of Automated, Elaine Varsano (Mordecai's Widow) retired. Her duties were taken over by Norma Vela and continues to this day. In November of 1998, Automated Apartment Laundry was sold to Dadson Washer Service. The sale marked an end of Automated's venture into the competitive route business, but provided a substantial inflow of operating capital. 

     In the year 2000, Automated continues to sell quality laundry products and has become a leader in Hollywood's prop rental business. Automated has always been owned and operated by the Varsano family. Our goal is to provide the laundry industry with a full service distributor that provides equipment sales, parts, and the best service to every customer. "Quality and Dependability is our Business." That has been our motto from the very beginning.

     In August of 2000, following the marriage of Jonathan and Lauren Varsano, Automated Laundry Systems was sold to Ovanes "Oncho" Keushkerian of  Vepo Corporation.  Norma Vela was retained as an employee by the Vepo Corporation. Oncho continues the Automated Laundry Systems tradition of distributing and servicing Wascomat Laundry Equipment and Parts.   Other major brands of laundry equipment parts may be purchased at Marga Parts and OK Service maintains laundry equipment throughout Southern California.