For the past 11 years, locals and visitors to the Boothbay Region have seen the face of Juanita Kristoff carrying armfuls of laundry back and forth across the Centah of Attention laundromat and all over town. At the end of October, she will shut the doors of the Centah of Attention for good.

Kristoff hasn't written off possibly reopening at another location, but she has been unable to find an affordable rent elsewhere. Right now she is planning on living off her late husband's Social Security and finding a part-time job.

“Maybe I'll find a spot to reopen in the spring,” Kristoff said. “Until then everything will have to stay in the garage.”

Kristoff has gained quite a few loyal customers over the years who are sad to see her leaving.

“I'm just heartsick about this,” Howie Barter said to Kristoff. “You're good at what you do. I'll miss you.”

When asked why she was closing, Kristoff cited the economy and how hard it is to make it as a business owner in a tourist town.

“We make the majority of our money in five months of the year,” Kristoff said. “Yet we pay rent, utilities, personal bills, all 12 months. In 2012 I got behind on the bills, and bless Bet (Finocchiaro) for understanding.” Finocchiaro owns the building Centah of Attention rents.

“I caught up with the bills in August, but there is no way I'll make enough in September and October to make it through another winter like last one,” Kristoff said. “Bet is a good friend, and I couldn't ask for a better landlady,” Kristoff said. “In 11 years she didn't raise the rent.”

Finocchiaro, working next door for those years at Bet's Fish Fry, is sad to see Kristoff leaving.

“She's fabulous,” Finocchiaro said, tossing fries and haddock for hungry lunch customers. “I'm not going to miss her, because she's not going anywhere. We'll see each other often for sure.”

Kristoff is maintaining a positive outlook about the change, and said what she will miss most are her customers.

“I have customers that have become good friends,” Kristoff said. “I'll be at Hannaford and someone will say, 'Oh Juanita I've got laundry in my car for you.' So I go out with them and we load it into my car. It's good customer service, and it's just being kind.”

“Maybe it's time to move on, but I really love what I do. I'm hoping I can work part-time in the laundry of one of the hotels in town, then I could keep doing what I love.”

The last day for dropping off laundry and dry cleaning will be October 8. The last day for pick-up is October 22. Anything not picked up by then will be donated to Goodwill.

For the last 18 years, Kristoff has collected donations of winter clothing for needy families which she has given away. She plans to continue with this program this year, “even if I have to do it out of the back of my Jeep,” Kristoff said.

When asked what she plans to do with the building, Finocchiaro just smiled. “I've got a plan. I'm keeping the building for myself ... I see fish chowder and biscuits on the horizon ... maybe ... I'm not promising anything!”

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.