SAN ANTONIO — June 25 will forever be remembered by Patrick Garcia Sr., Theresa Garcia and other leadership members at Division Laundry & Cleaners located here.
The family-owned operation recently marked the 25th anniversary of the catastrophic 2001 fire that destroyed the company’s facility but didn’t kill the business.
Two-thirds of Division’s clients left after the fire, but the other third remained committed despite the work being outsourced to other plants throughout Texas. Their faith was rewarded two years later when a sprawling new 50,000-square-foot facility was built across the street from Lackland Air Force Base on San Antonio’s west side.
Some equipment running today actually pre-dates the new facility, including a 31-year-old LAVATEC tunnel washer system that is the centerpiece of a water conservation program saving over 15 million gallons annually. Other equipment, such as a majority of Division’s fleet of 46 box trucks, tractors, and trailers, is emblazoned with a phoenix logo. The mythical bird symbolizes the successful rise from the ashes of that fateful day.
“That fire changed us, and June 25 is always with us. It’s a reminder of what we overcame and a source of motivation to face whatever comes our way,” remarks Garcia Sr., Division’s president and CEO since 2010. “It tested us in ways I would not wish on anyone. But it also shaped who we are and what we stand for as a company, which is exactly why the phoenix logo means so much to us.”
FAMILY TRADITION BUILDING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The acquisition of laundry properties in Dallas and Houston in 2022, combined with opening a facility in Muskogee, Oklahoma, has helped the company expand over the past four years. It’s a very different world since Division Laundry & Cleaners opened for business in 1939.
Military contracts accounted for a good portion of its business in the early years. Founder Peter Garcia began by laundering uniforms for the troops at Fort Sam Houston and named the company after the 2nd Infantry Division at the post.
His commitment to quality service helped establish a foothold with clients that rings true today. As the state’s population has soared through the decades, many industries have flourished. The healthcare and hospitality markets sparked growth in the commercial laundry business, and Division has taken advantage of the opportunity to strengthen its relationships over the years.
“We are proud to say that some of our customer relationships go back nearly 54 years,” says Garcia Sr., who is actively involved in the community and serves on the board of the San Antonio Manufacturers Association. March 2027 will mark his 55th anniversary working at Division.
“Long-term relationships are something we value deeply. We don’t simply view these as customer accounts, but as true partnerships. We genuinely enjoy working with the people and organizations we serve and believe that commitment shows in the loyalty we have built over the decades.”
That loyalty to customers, which includes hotel properties in San Antonio ranging from 250 to 1,000 rooms, was learned early in his career.
“Over the years, I have worn just about every hat imaginable. I ran payroll and handled accounting while attending college and working 50 hours a week,” says Garcia Sr., who later completed his undergraduate and master’s degree in economics. “Looking back, there is not a part of the business I have not touched, and I believe that is exactly what has prepared me to lead it.”
It required a family effort for the company to survive the fire and to accomplish what it has since. Son Patrick Garcia Jr. is the CFO, daughter Patricia and son-in-law Adam Luna are the CAO and director of purchasing, respectively, and daughter Theresa is the COO.
“Beyond healthcare and hospitality, we also serve customers in the medical apparel, dust control, mats, and food and beverage markets. This range of services allows us to be a one-stop provider for our customers, meaning they can rely on us for multiple needs rather than managing relationships with several different vendors,” says Theresa.
She took a different path than her father and had other career choices in mind after graduating from college in 2010. But after starting as an administrative assistant before moving into operations where she worked closely with the plant manager in San Antonio, she learned the customer service and fleet management side of the business before taking on company operations responsibilities. She became COO after the Dallas and Houston acquisitions in 2022.
“Quality service,” she says, “absolutely remains a cornerstone of our business. Whether we are serving a hospital, a hotel, or any other type of customer, our commitment to consistent, reliable, high-quality results does not change, regardless of the market segment or the facility handling the work.”
RESPECTED PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY
Theresa oversees an operation employing 320 people, where each facility runs five days a week. San Antonio is the hub, producing work over two shifts while Dallas, Houston, and Muskogee run one shift each. Together, the four facilities keep a steady and growing volume of linen moving through their operation each year.
Division was one of the local community’s oldest and most respected institutions before it was honored with the 2018 San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Family Business of the Year award. More tributes have followed in recent years.
In 2023, the company was recognized with a Minority Legacy Firm award. The next year, Garcia Sr. received a Lifetime Achievement award from the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Last year, Division was named inclusive Employer of the Year by the Workforce Inclusion Network in San Antonio and was inducted as a charter member into the LAVATEC Hall of Fame, which recognizes exceptional laundry industry companies and individuals.
“Community involvement is something I am proud that our leadership team is actively engaged in,” says Garcia Sr. “As a company, Division also participates each holiday season in the Communities in School Holiday Pledge. This program helps provide meals to families experiencing financial hardship through our local community schools, and it is one of the ways we give back to a community that has supported us over the years.”
OVER 500 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER SAVED
As Texas’s population increased from 27 million in 2016 to nearly 32 million in 2025, it became one of the fastest-growing states, second only to California. Coupled with the region being among the world’s largest agricultural producers, water availability is always a concern.
Division management began taking steps in its water conservation efforts in the 1990s and has won numerous awards. In 1995, Division installed a LAVATEC continuous tunnel washer (CTW) with 110-pound capacity that began paying immediate dividends and continues to run both shifts. It required less water usage and also provided the business with additional labor and utility savings.
The 31-year-old system has since been joined by two other LAVATEC CTWs. Garcia Sr. confirmed that since 1995, the company has saved more than 500 million gallons of water from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). In turn, SAWS recognized Division with a Water Excellence award for the best environmental performance as a large wastewater site.
“All three machines here in San Antonio hold a special place in our company’s history. When we rebuilt, we installed the other two tunnel washers when we reopened in 2003,” he notes. “Having an automated washing system has been a significant advantage for our operations. It has helped us improve production time, reduce labor requirements, and save on energy costs.”
With the tunnel washers, Division utilizes over 20 LAVATEC machines. The San Antonio facility is also home to 18 dryers: 15 are from the TT-745 series, and three are high-performance, FL656 front-loading gas dryers. The company also employs a pair of LX-445 washer-extractors.
Theresa Garcia says Division’s maintenance team works with LAVATEC’s service department to ensure all of the equipment is performing at the highest productivity levels.
“Keeping our equipment running at a high level is a top priority for us. Staying on top of preventative maintenance is what allows us to sustain that kind of operation without sacrificing performance,” she explains. “Our team performs regular maintenance on all three tunnel washers, which has been key to keeping them running efficiently and reliably.
“We also have a strong working relationship with the LAVATEC service group. We work closely with them whenever we need assistance or help with troubleshooting, and we collaborate with them to make sure we have all the necessary parts in stock to keep our equipment maintained and running. They have always been responsive and helpful, and we value the partnership we have built with them over the years.”
As Division reaches the halfway mark of its 87th year, Garcia Sr. is grateful for its standing in the marketplace.
“I never envisioned Division being where it is today. This business was founded by my father, and when he became ill, my mother stepped in and kept it going. That spirit of resilience carried us through everything that followed,” he recalls.
“We rebuilt, grew, and now have our children and son-in-law as part of the team carrying forward a legacy that started with their grandparents. We are extremely proud of how far we have come.”
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
