Press Releases

April, 2013

STARR TEXTILE SERVICES MOVING FORWARD WITH $10.7 MILLION INVESTMENT – NEW ORLEANS, LA – Starr Textile Services of Louisiana, currently located at 1152 Magazine Street, has announced the purchase of a 70,000 square-foot facility in Jefferson Parish to be renovated into a new state-of-the-art laundry by the end of the year. The expansion will allow Starr to increase their capacity to over 6,000 pounds of laundry per hour to service hotels, restaurants and condominium property management partners 24/7.

Jefferson Parish President John Young Welcomes Sheila Hodges and the Starr Team Pictured from left to right: Les Williams, Steve Florence, Wayne Braefield and Sheila Hodges of Starr Textile Services; Jefferson Parish Councilman Paul Johnston, District 2; Jefferson Parish President John Young, Jerry Bolgna and Dottie Stephenson of JEDCO; Curtis Pellerin of Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales and Jim Pellerin of Pellerin Milnor Corporation.

According to Les Williams, Starr Textile Services COO, they will bring about 40 existing positions from the current plant to the larger facility and add over 25 new positions in the next year. Starr has invested over $10.7 million in the building, renovations and equipment purchases for 312 Time Saver Avenue in Elmwood, La. Starr would like to thank the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) and Jefferson Parish for all of their assistance and hospitality in facilitating the move to the Elmwood Business Park. JEDCO and Starr Textiles have worked closely for more than two years to secure the right site to host the expanding business. With the new building chosen and big plans for growth, Starr Textiles applied for an SBA 504 Loan. Of the more than $10 million investment, JEDCO will finance over $4.3 million of it, making this the largest SBA 504 loan in JEDCO history. "This move has been a long time in the making," says JEDCO Executive Director, Jerry Bologna. "I commend the JEDCO team, the Parish President and Parish Department directors for their unwavering commitment to this project. We are confident that Starr Textiles will find unprecedented success in Jefferson Parish. JEDCO remains dedicated to Starr Textiles."

Starr also chose to partner with another Jefferson Parish business Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales Company, Inc. to design the new laundry and their sister company, Pellerin Milnor Corporation, as one of the main laundry equipment manufacturers utilized in the new plant. The Pellerin Family owns and operates both of these companies which are located in Kenner, LA.

Sheila Hodges, owner and Chairman of SH Enterprises, the umbrella to a family of companies including Starr Textile Services LLC of Louisiana, explained," We, the Starr Textile Team, are committed to the highest standards of service, relationships and profitability - balanced to the benefit of our customers. Starr began in Foley, Alabama and has grown along the Gulf Coast. In 2010 Starr's expansion resulted in a small plant in New Orleans and now through team excellence, we have grown so rapidly that we were fortunate to locate this facility and work with JEDCO to advance our business in the New Orleans Metro region." Starr's first 30,000-square foot, state-of-the-art laundry was built in Foley, Alabama and also designed/equipped by Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales Company, which utilized laundry machinery manufactured by Pellerin Milnor . Sheila explained, "Pellerin and Starr make great partners because our business principles and high standards for customer service are aligned. The New Orleans area has been very good to us and therefore, our commitment back to this area, and now to Jefferson Parish as well, is that we will continue to invest in the community. We will continue to train, improve and grow our workforce. We will continue to be the driving force in the advancement of our industry. Thank you for that opportunity."

"We are very proud to be partnering with Starr Textile Services on this state-of-the-art laundry facility," said Scott McClure, V.P. of Sales Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales Company, Inc. "In 2008, we designed and equipped Starr's laundry facility in Foley, AL and are excited about their new facility to serve the New Orleans Market. This new laundry will be minutes away from our Kenner plant and will have some of the latest energy saving technology, including a Milnor PulseFlow® Wash System that will annually process millions of pounds of linen while utilizing less than 1/2 gallons per pound. Considering that conventional washers can utilize up to 3.5 gallons per lb., this laundry will be one of the most efficient laundry facilities in the country."

Les Williams stated, "Clean, pressed linen is a must in the hospitality industry, and that's what Starr provides all day, every day: consistent quality and consistent customer service. Starr does this while ‘in the green.' Environmentally friendly chemicals, heat reclamation systems, the commercial laundry industry's lowest water usage per pound, and recycling programs make our declaration of being ‘green' more than just words. We are excited about our expansion of services and efficiencies in Louisiana."

August, 2012

STARR TEXTILE SERVICES SPONSORS DIRTY LINEN NIGHT – NEW ORLEANS, LA – Starr Textile Services of Louisiana along with the Arts Council of New Orleans and Bevolo Lighting presented Dirty Linen Night on August 11 in New Orleans' French Quarter between the 200 to 1000 blocks of Royal Street from Iberville to Ursulines.

Owner Sheila Hodges states, "Our team at Starr Textile Services of Louisiana, based in New Orleans, was excited to sponsor Dirty Linen Night in support of the Arts Council of New Orleans and the Royal Street Merchants. We are pleased to grow with New Orleans and have plans to expand our facilities to meet the demand. Our sponsorship of this outstanding art event was a fun way to join the business community and express our appreciation for our business partnerships."

Missy Zak, Vice-President of Marketing and Communications for SH Enterprises, Inc. the parent company of Starr Textile Services of Louisiana, says "Dirty Linen Night was quite impressive and it was a joy to participate as a sponsor of this festive event. The annual art walk featured more than 60 open galleries and shops on Royal Street so the event was filled with lots of interesting collectables and entertainment presented with a giant block party vibe." Zak adds "We were thrilled to join with the Royal Street merchants and Arts Council to offer Dirty Linen Night attendees a fun evening. Since our commercial laundry on Magazine Street in New Orleans specializes in cleaning hospitality linen, i.e. sheets, towels, uniforms, tablecloths and napkins, the support for this event is a great fit and we look forward to future opportunities to show our community support."

October, 2010

(Pictured left to right: Tom Gober, Starr Textile Services President & CEO, Stephen Florence, Starr Textile Services Vice-President and General Manager, Chase Lamb, Starr Textile Services Lead Mechanic and Assistant Manager and Sheila Hodges, Starr Textile Services owner.)

STARR TEXTILE SERVICES RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD - FOLEY, AL - The Baldwin County Commission awarded Starr Textile Services the 2010 Environmental Responsibility Award for Small Business.

Chase Lamb, Lead Mechanic and Assistant Manager of Starr Textile Services, advises "Our application for the Environmental Responsibility Award focused on our conservation and recycling processes. For example, we use hot water exiting the washers and boiler exhaust to heat incoming city water. Our large tunnel washers only use 0.9 gallons of water per pound of laundry compared to 2.5 to 4 gallons for a conventional household washer." Mr. Lamb adds, "We use "green certified" products to clean our 30,000 square-foot facility and we use wash cloths in the place of paper towels in our restrooms. We recycle the good fabric from damaged sheets to make pillowcases. Other torn or stained textiles are donated to various charities, animal shelters and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. We also encourage our customers to send hangers back to us for use in our hanger recycling program."

Owner Sheila Hodges states, "Our organization is very pleased to earn the Environmental Responsibility Award for our "green" efforts at the Starr Textile Services facility in the Foley Industrial Park. We have worked diligently to provide cost effective textile services to hospitality organizations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida in a manner that conserves water and energy and uses environmentally green chemicals at our Foley, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana facilities. The recognition for our accomplishments by the Baldwin County Commission is gratifying."

Starr Textile Services serves the commercial laundry, dry cleaning and textile rental needs of hospitality organizations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

August, 2008

GRAND OPENING ANNOUNCED FOR STARR TEXTILE SERVICES - FOLEY, AL - Sheila Hodges, owner and Chairman of the Board of Meyer Real Estate, proudly announces the grand opening of Starr Textile Services which will be held on Monday, August 18 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 940 N Poplar Street in the Foley Industrial Park, Foley, Alabama.

Sheila Hodges states "Invited guests will tour the state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot commercial facility, view videos of the operations and experience innovation in action. They will experience the efficient, energy conscious, environmentally friendly, "green" operations at this highly advanced business capable of processing 3,200 pounds of commercial laundry per hour. And they will examine the quality of ironed and folded sheets unlike any other area laundry process." Ms. Hodges says "This business has been a vision of mine for many years and now the reality is a facility capable of handling the commercial laundry needs of hospitality organizations in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. We believe this grand opening will showcase tomorrow's technology in practice today at South Alabama Commercial Laundry in Foley, Alabama."

Starr Textile Services will serve the needs of clients in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida for commercial laundry and dry cleaning.