SOMA Living February 2022

a “side hustle” when they opened their first business, Water Works Laundromat in Newark. “I learned about the laundromat business and saw it as an opportunity invest in Newark and create a legacy for my family that could sustain us after we retire. It took me about 6 years to talk Annie into it but launching Water Works was the perfect fit since she was essentially running a business within her department at Johnson & Johnson,” Darryl said. “Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. I realized when I became really hands on with the day-to-day operations that running a business isn’t a hobby or part-time job. I’m especially proud of the changes I’ve seen since I segued out of my corporate job. It was during this time that I came up with the idea to offer laundry pick up delivery service in SOMA since everyone’s lives are so busy. We hoped that our son Nile would join me when we opened a second location called Smart Sudz in Newark. He worked with me for a spell but has inherited our entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to launch his own business in the music industry,” Annie shared. Nile, who was on a county championship team in basketball at Seton Hall Prep followed by playing at Oberlin College, started a business during his sophomore year representing one of his musician friends from Seton Hall Prep. After graduating in 2019 as an Economics major, Nile expanded his company, Crossroads (CXR), a collection of artists and producers bringing that unique Jersey sound to the masses. Since taking the helm as Manager, Nile has seen quite a few careers take off and represents various genres of music. When the Godfreys are able to catch some downtime, they enjoy spending time outside and walking whether it’s into town, throughout the Reservation or the various parks. Darryl also tries to sneak in rounds of golf as much as possible. Annie concluded, “I especially love walking through Floods Hill on Wednesday nights in the Summer with the live music. The fields remind me of our many cherished years at sporting events and seeing the community gathering for an evening of music reminds me that we have a very special, tight-knit community.”

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