By Jim Utter
Director of Journalism
Auto Spa Etc, a family-owned car wash company serving the area of St. Louis, Missouri, since 1977, announced this week it had acquired two closed ZIPS Car Wash locations.
The new sites are in Ballwin and South St. Louis County, Missouri. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The strategic move marks the company’s latest regional expansion and strengthens its presence across the greater St. Louis area.
“This expansion reinforces our long-standing commitment to serving our community with top-tier service, convenience and innovation,” Phil Hurlbut, CEO at Auto Spa Etc., said in a statement.
“As a local, family-owned business, we’re proud to invest in the St. Louis area and continue creating opportunities for our team and our customers.
“None of this growth would be possible without our dedicated team. Their hard work, passion and commitment to excellence are the driving force behind everything we do.”
Auto Spa Etc began over four decades ago and currently operates six exterior express car washes and three full-service car washes across the region.
Its portfolio also includes one in-bay automatic wash and two gas station/convenience store locations. Auto Spa Etc also runs a full-service detail center.
Auto Spa Etc plans to renovate the acquired properties and will integrate both locations into its current express car wash network. Both locations will reopen under the Auto Spa Etc Express banner in the coming months.
As consolidation trends accelerate in the car wash industry, the company plans to actively explore new acquisition and development opportunities across the Midwest to fuel growth.
In May, ZIPS Car Wash announced it had successfully emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and had appointed a new chief executive officer to lead the restructured operation.
ZIPS, one of the country’s largest privately held car wash operators, voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection in early February in hopes of greatly reducing its debt obligations. The company also operates brands Rocket Express Car Wash and Jet Brite Car Wash.
