Staff Reports
The car wash industry continues to expand and innovate with acquisitions, new openings, and renovations. Here’s a roundup of the latest news from around the industry:
Construction is underway on a new Real Clean Express Car Wash location in Hornell, New York. The work is being completed by Chrisanntha Construction Corporation. The site is planning a grand opening in the fall this year. Among the free amenities to be offered: vacuums, air dusters, hand towels and hand preparation of each vehicle.
RealSource Group has listed a Mister Car Wash location sale-leaseback in Tucson, Arizona, for $5.1 million. RealSource says it’s the only Mister Car Wash sale-leaseback available in the United States currently and comes on the heels of bonus depreciation set back to 100 percent for qualified assets. At closing, the seller will sign a 20-year, absolute NNN lease with annual increases to hedge inflation.
A new Ultimate Shine Car Wash location is on track for a grand opening in August in Lynchburg, Virginia. … A new Washville Car Wash location recently opened in Middletown, Rhode Island.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash welcomes the community for a weekend-long celebration marking the grand opening of its first-ever ‘World Model’ location in Holland, Michigan. Guests are welcome to enjoy giveaways, fun activities and support a local non-profit from today through Sunday. A portion of all washes on Saturday will be donated to the Outdoor Discovery Center, a nonprofit focused on outdoor education and conservation. Throughout the weekend, guests will be able to spin-to-win prizes. A StrEATS Taco Truck and an inflatable car wash obstacle course will be on-site Saturday.
Construction is well underway on a new Lipton Car Wash in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The work is being completed by Bold Commercial Construction LLC. The gravel base fill and conveyor trench are in place, setting the stage for slab prep and vertical construction. Site grading and utility coordination are ongoing as the company pushes toward the next major milestones.
Registration is now open for this year’s Northeast Regional Carwash Convention, which will be held Oct. 6-8 at the Atlantic City (New Jersey) Convention Center. This year’s convention delivers a larger platform for professionals to take part in education, innovation and networking. The show floor will feature more than 380 exhibits with new products, technologies and services in the car wash industry. For more information on the convention, visit www.nrccshow.com.
Following the recent grand opening celebration of a new Moo Moo Express Car Wash at 3019 Turnberry Ct. in Grove City, Ohio, the site announced it raised $11,600 for Student Success Stores. Student Success Stores is a nonprofit dedicated to helping students thrive by providing a free, anonymous place for them to shop for their basic needs. The help ensures every child starts the school day healthy, confident, and ready to learn.
A new Sud Stop Car Wash location recently opened in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Construction of the site was completed by Bay to Bay Properties LLC.
Sgt. Clean Car Wash recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest interior cleaning facility in Green, Ohio. As part of the celebration, there was a ribbon cutting event and Sgt. Clean provided $1,000 donations to both the Green Moms Group and the City of Green Leadership Class. This facility emphasizes efficiency, service, and raising the bar in customer experience.
Quick Jet Car Wash recently opened its second location in Sevier County (Tennessee) with a new location in Sevierville, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. The new location is 714 Windfield Dunn Pkwy. The location offers several technological improvements over the original location, including the offer of graphene and ceramic coating, and a polisher pro at the end of the tunnel.
Spark Car Wash is now open on Route 59 in West Nyack, New York. The Goldstein Group brokered the sale of the property to Spark in the past and they recently renovated the former car wash at the site.
Residents in the area of San Antonio, Texas, have the opportunity to nominate their favorite car wash in a new promotion by KSAT.com that got underway this week. Fans can nominate their favorite car wash during the nomination period, which runs until Aug. 1 (Just click here). Finalists for each category will be announced on Aug. 19. Finalist voting will open Aug. 20 and end Sept. 12, where fans can vote for each category once per day.
Ready for the “Dog Days of Summer?” Beginning on Thursday, customers who cruise through the car wash with their dogs at Moo Moo Express Car Wash receive a free treat from Growlers Dog Bones. Growlers is a non-profit company that empowers individuals with disabilities through vocational training and make all-natural, handcrafted dog bones. In addition, visitors have the chance of winning free car washes for a year. Take a picture of your dog enjoying the wash, scan the QR code on the treat bag, and upload the photo to enter. Voting kicks off Aug. 1. The winner will be announced Aug. 26 for National Dog Day.
An Auto Spa Express Car Wash will fill one of the six commercial lots bordering the proposed Costco location in Bel Air, Maryland. The plans for the car wash propose a 5,223-square-foot wash. The company has another express car wash in Bel Air off East Churchville Road. A community input meeting will be held on the proposal at 6 p.m. ET July 30 at Bel Air branch of the Harford County Public Library, the first step in the development process.
Representatives of Wash Rite Express Car Wash, who are attempting to get permission to build a $5 million site in Wheeling, West Virginia, remain unable to receive a decision from the Wheeling Planning Commission following another contentious meeting. As a result of a 3-3 vote, a motion to grant preliminary site plan approval died. Officials requested that a more comprehensive traffic study be presented to make it clear the proposed business will not negatively impact an already congested area.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash, the fastest-growing car wash brand in the nation, is celebrating the opening of two new locations. The first is in San Antonio, Texas, at 14036 Culebra Rd. To mark the occasion, guests are invited to enjoy a free car wash through July 27. Tommy’s Express is also hosting a grand opening at its newest location in Omaha, Nebraska, at 4922 South 202nd Ave. Guests can enjoy free games of Plinko with a chance to win exciting prizes, including a set of custom-fit WeatherTech floor mats. Tommy’ Express has more than 250 locations across North America and Europe.
A car wash in Florida has an interesting promotion for the summer weather, which can change on a moment’s notice. The Beaches Car Wash in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., is offering a “48-hour rain guarantee.” If it rains within two days of your service at the car wash, Beaches will re-wash your car’s exterior at no extra cost.
A new Weigel’s Auto Spa location is opening next week in Knoxville, Tenn., on the corner of Emory Road and Clinton Highway. Customers can receive a complimentary car wash on July 25-27. Development was done by Genesis Building Systems LLC.
The Arizona Lottery recently announced that a winning $1 million Powerball ticket was sold at a Cobblestone Auto Spa in Chandler, Arizona. The ticket also had a Powerplay, which would double the amount to $2 million. The Powerball jackpot currently stands at $246 million.
Crew Carwash recently held a grand opening for its newest location in Munster, Indiana. It is the 54th location for the car wash company, which has sites in Minnesota and Indiana. Founded in 1948 by Joe Dahm, Crew Carwash is an Indiana-based, multi-generational family business. The name ‘Crew’ honors their dedicated and talented crew members who work hard at each location.
Construction is under way on a new WCW Carwash in San Angelo, Texas., WCW Carwash was issued a permit in the amount of $4 million to build a brand-new car wash at 1434 N. Bryant Blvd. Work is in the early stages as dirt has been dug up and holes have been placed for infrastructure. This is the second WCW Carwash in San Angelo with the other being located at 6004 Grand Court Rd. An official opening date for the new location has not yet been set.
A Ferndale (Michigan) Planning Commission meeting that was to feature potential action on a proposed car wash has been canceled. The commission’s July 16 meeting was to have a special land use application and site plan review for a project at 22230 Woodward Ave. for the development of an El Car Wash. The project would include the demolition of existing buildings and construction of a 3,623-square-foot car wash and 8,603-square-foot enclosed vacuuming area.
The Lathrop (California) Planning Commission recently considered the approval of a Conditional Use Permit/Site Plan Review for construction of a 4,874-square-foot drive-through Mister Car Wash with all the project-related improvements. It would be the second Mister Car Wash location in Lathrop. The newest location sits on a planned 1.16-acre site at 101 and 147 W. Lathrop Rd., just off the Interstate 5 northbound on-ramp.
A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held, and construction is now under way for a Tropic Car Wash location in San Luis, Arizona. It’s part of an economic development project near the commercial port of entry with Mexico.
El Car Wash recently opened its third location in Michigan, with a site in Warren. During the grand opening celebration, El Car Wash donated $1 for every car washed to Forgotten Harvest, a Metro Detroit-based organization that fights hunger and food insecurity. The event raised $2,000, enough to provide 6,000 meals to families across Michigan. Among those on hand were representatives from the City of Warren, the NFL’s Detroit Lions, 95.5 ‘Mojo in the Morning’ and Chick-fil-A.
Quick Quack Car Wash recently celebrated the opening of its newest site in Payson, Utah, the company’s 59th location in the state. As part of the grand opening event, Quick Quack held a fundraiser for a local family and presented a $10,000 check. The site also offered free ceramic car washes for 12 days. Based in Sacramento, California, Quick Quack, founded in 2004, has more than 275 sites across five states – California, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas.
The Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Commission recently participated in the grand opening of a new Super Star Car Wash in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It’s the company’s seventh location in the city with an eighth already under development. Super Star has more than 110 locations across Arizona, Texas, Colorado and California.
A former Cinemark Movies 12 movie theater in Lancaster, California, could be torn down to make way for a new car wash. The city’s planning commission is considering a proposed conditional use permit for the construction and operation of a Quick Quack Car Wash on the property site at 44790 Valley Central Way. The proposed car wash would consist of a 3,588-square-foot building. A total of 22 vacuum stalls would be available on the north side of the building, sheltered by a proposed canopy.
Construction is progressing quickly at AquaSonic Car Wash’s second Tampa market location on N. 56th Street, with doors set to open late in the fourth quarter of this year. This site builds on the momentum from the first Fund I location, which opened almost one month ago in New Port Richey. It also marks another key step in bringing the company’s real estate-backed car wash strategy to life across Florida. The sites are poof of the pace, precision, and performance behind Henley’s Car Wash Fund offering.
Registration is open for the 12th Women in Carwash Conference. The first bi-annual Women in Carwash Conference of 2026 will be held Jan. 18-20, 2026, at the Hilton Clearwater (Florida) Beach Resort & Spa. More info here.
El Car Wash is hosting a block-style grand opening party on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for its newest location at 11674 University Blvd. in Orlando, Florida (near University of Central Florida). The event will include live music, complimentary treats from local businesses, giveaways (including a chance at a year of unlimited washes), free washes for new customers and special membership promotions.
Registration is now open for this year’s Northeast Regional Carwash Convention, which will be held Oct. 6-8 at the Atlantic City (New Jersey) Convention Center. This year’s convention delivers a larger platform for professionals to take part in education, innovation and networking. The show floor will feature more than 380 exhibits with new products, technologies and services in the car wash industry. For more information on the convention, visit www.nrccshow.com.
A plan to build a gas station, car wash and convenience store on the north end of Wooster, Ohio, moved a step closer to construction following preliminary approval by the city planning commission. Northstar Planning & Design, on behalf of Campbell Oil Co., submitted an application for conditional use approval for a 16-pump gas station with a 5,000-square-foot convenience store and a 2,100-square-foot automatic car wash.
Mint Express Car Wash has officially opened its new location in Missouri City, Texas, offering exterior automated washes as well as exterior and interior detailing services such as hand wax, leather conditioning and headlight restoration. The brand has existing locations across the Houston area, including Cypress, Pearland and Katy.
Wanamaker Club Car Wash in Topeka, Kansas, spent last month collecting donations from customers that culminated in a check for $10,001 for Stormont Vail Health’s Miracle Children’s Network (MCN). Stormont Vail Health is a nonprofit integrated health system that has served the healthcare needs of Kansas for more than 130 years. CMN at Stormont Vail supports a variety of funding needs that are crucial to its pediatric departments.
Registration is open for the 12th Women in Carwash Conference. The first bi-annual Women in Carwash Conference of 2026 will be held Jan. 18-20, 2026, at the Hilton Clearwater (Florida) Beach Resort & Spa. More info here.
El Car Wash is hosting a block-style grand opening party on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for its newest location at 7651 University Blvd. in Winter Park, Florida. The event will include live music, complimentary treats from local businesses, giveaways (including a chance at a year of unlimited washes), free washes for new customers and special membership promotions.
A new MyWash Car Wash location recently opened in Warsaw, Indiana, including a ribbon-cutting for the business hosted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. It is the operator’s second location, with the first site in Marion, Indiana. Amenities at the site include free vacuums, mat washer and exterior and interior cleaners for windows. MyWash offers five different single-wash options and four different membership levels.
A new Surf Thru Express Car Wash recently opened at 505 N. Reed Ave. in Reedley, California, according to the Reedley Chamber of Commerce announced. The car wash has partnered with St. Anthony Food Center to support a community food drive. The car wash is currently accepting donations of non-perishable food items.
A popular car wash in Leesburg, Virginia, has closed after the owner has fallen ill. The BriteWash Auto Wash, located at the Shop at Russell Branch, is shut down with a message on its answering machine claiming, “it’s closed indefinitely.” Members who wish to cancel their membership plans are told to contact their credit card company.
Club Carwash recently opened a new location in Sherman, Texas. During a recent grand opening celebration, the site raised $2,258 on a car wash promotion and made donations to Children’s Miracle Network and Family Promise of Grayson County, which is dedicated to ending child homelessness.
A raging fire tore through a car wash over the weekend in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Firefighters and police officers responding to a 911 call reporting a fire at Alan’s Car Wash on Hampton Drive in Londonderry just before 11 p.m. last Friday found large flames shooting from the building. Due to the fire’s intensity, a hazmat team was called to the scene, as well as firefighters from nearby towns of Hudson, Pelham, Salem, and Derry.
Construction is slated to begin shortly on a new car wash in McKinney, Texas. The Lone Star Shine Car Wash will be located at 8301 Eldorado Pkwy and is scheduled to open later this year or early 2026. The car wash will offer washing and detailing services and a VIP Club membership that grants unlimited access to its services. Amenities include vacuum bays, window cleaning and interior cleaning products.
Woodman’s shoppers in Waukesha, Wisconsin, will soon have the enhanced option of getting a freshly cleaned car on top of a trunk full of groceries and a tank of gas, all in one trip. The Janesville-based supermarket chain has received approvals from the City of Waukesha for a tunnel-style car wash, accompanied by 14 vacuuming stations and six additional self-service fuel pumps.
Prestige Car Wash will host a grand opening celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at its newest location at 837 Hancock St. in Quincy, Massachusetts. The “Welcome Party” will include free car washes and free food trucks featuring ice cream and pizza. The event is to benefit Quincy Animal Shelter. … A grand opening community celebration is set for Saturday for a new Brite Brothers Express Car Wash location at 12610 Tomball Pkwy in Houston, Texas.
Drive & Shine, a car wash company with businesses in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan, has announced its expansion into Lima, Ohio, with a new location at 3355 Elida Rd. to open next month. Drive & Shine was established in 1997 and has grown to include 25 locations. Its new Lima site is designed to process 120 cars per hour with its state-of-the-art cleaning system.
A new Super Star Car Wash could soon be coming to Goodyear, Arizona. The city recently held a neighborhood meeting to allow local residents to weigh in. The meeting was part of the city’s required public process to review a request for a use permit. The proposal, submitted by Madison Leake, on behalf of the property owner, seeks permission to develop the car wash on a 1.26-acre site zoned for Planned Area Development, with underlying General Commercial uses.
A new car wash is coming to 1516 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, Washington. Demolition began this week on the building that formerly housed Ay Caramba to make way for a new $4 million, 4,769-square-foot car wash (including storage) with vacuum and pay station canopies, according to city of Wenatchee documents.
Links Car Wash continues to expand its Florida footprint with the grand opening of its newest location at 6800 4th Street North in St. Petersburg. Formerly operating as Shine Auto Wash, the site has been fully rebranded and upgraded to reflect the Links Car Wash experience. “We’re excited to officially open our doors in St. Pete,” said Joe Teague, CEO of Links Car Wash. “This location represents our continued investment in Florida and our mission to bring an elevated car wash experience to more communities.”
El Car Wash is hosting a block-style grand opening party on Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for its newest location at 4575 S. Semoran Blvd. in Orlando, Florida. The event will include live music, complimentary treats from local businesses, giveaways (including a chance at a year of unlimited washes), free washes for new customers and special membership promotions.
Registration is open for the 12th Women in Carwash Conference. The first bi-annual Women in Carwash Conference of 2026 will be held Jan. 18-20, 2026, at the Hilton Clearwater (Florida) Beach Resort & Spa. More info here.
