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:
Five Star Car Wash & Detail Center in East Northport, New York, has been named Best Car Wash/Detailing on Long Island in the 2024 Daily Voice Readers’ Choice Awards. The contest to name the Best of the Best on Long Island began with reader nominations in October and ended with a voting period for finalists in 80+ categories in December. Five Star specializes in hand waxing, interior shampooing, clay bar treatments, and advanced paint protection services.
The city council of Palmdale, California, recently granted approval to a controversial proposed fuel station, market and car wash adjacent to Palmdale High School. The applicant, Beyond Food Mart, plans to build a 7,200-square-foot grocery store, a 2,100-square-foot car wash and a 10-island fueling station on approximately half of the 5.69-acre lot at 25th Street East and Avenue R. The project met or exceeded all environmental requirements, and no mitigation measures were required to compensate for deficiencies.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash has broken ground on its newest location in Palmetto, Florida, located at 1850 US-301, near Detwiler’s Farm Market. The brand is renowned for its customer-focused service, convenience, and high-quality car washes, which include tunnels with floor-to-ceiling windows and a transparent roof. With over 240 franchise locations across North America, Tommy’s Express is ranked No. 1 in the car wash category on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list.
Foam & Wash Car Wash in Newburgh, New York, has been named Best Car Wash/Detailing in the Hudson Valley in the 2024 Daily Voice Readers’ Choice Awards. Foam & Wash has remained a family-owned business dedicated to providing high-quality vehicle care since its founding in the 1960s. The company has 12 locations throughout Dutchess and Orange counties including car washes, dog washes, Shell Express, and a laundromat.
Flying Ace Car Wash wants to build a new location in the Belmont neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, and its request is on the agenda of the next meeting of Dayton’s City Plan Board. The site formerly housed a Rite Aid until the company announced its closing in July 2024. Flying Ace is one of the five brands of Express Wash Concepts and has several locations in the greater Dayton area.
Village trustees in Downers Grove, Illinois, are set to consider a proposal from Stellco Properties to build three new buildings at the Meadowbrook Shopping Center. The proposed additions include a drive-thru car wash and two multi-tenant buildings with drive-thru restaurants. Stellco purchased the property in 2022. The village’s planning and zooming commission gave unanimous approval for the development and the needed special use permits.
Simply Clean Mobile Detailing in Wilton, Connecticut, has been named Best Car Wash/Detailing in Fairfield County in the 2024 Daily Voice Readers’ Choice Awards. Using premium products, Simply Clean offers a range of services from exterior washes to full interior restoration. “This award is a reflection of the hard work, care, and passion that goes into every wash,” said James Perna, president of Simply Clean.
The Tommy’s Express Car Wash location in Rochester, Minnesota, will host a two-week community food drive March 15-29. Anyone who brings five non-perishable food items to the location will receive a free car wash. TommyClub members who participate will receive a free wash voucher to share with a friend. All food donations collected will support the local Salvation Army food shelf.
A new Super Star Car Wash location recently opened at 507 Garden of the Gods Rd. in Colorado Springs, Colo., and represents the company’s 111th location nationwide. The 1.03-acre, 4,662-square-foot location was built by Aslan Construction and designed by Architecture Orange. “We are kicking off the year with a few new locations and have been so pleased to be expanding in the Colorado market,” said Nicole Rodriguez, Super Star’s vice president of marketing.
Two new Tommy’s Express Car Wash locations – one in Coldwater, Michigan, and another in Dayton, Ohio – will celebrate grand openings with free car washes through Sunday. Both locations feature the brand’s signature wash tunnel with floor-to-ceiling windows and a transparent roof, creating a bright, open, and inviting atmosphere. Tommy’s Express has over 240 franchise locations across North America.
Wonder Wash Auto Spa & Express Lube in Yorktown Heights, New York, has been named Best Car Wash/Detailing in Westchester County in the 2024 Daily Voice Readers’ Choice Awards. Wonder Wash is a full-service auto spa and offers comprehensive detailing, express lube services, and hand-applied treatments to protect a car’s finish. The site is locally owned and operated since 2011.
Garry Ridge, former WD-40 chairman and CEO, has been named the keynote speaker for the 35th Northeast Regional Carwash Convention, scheduled for Oct. 7 at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Convention Center. Ridge was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 Most Admired CEOs when he served in that role for 25 years. Ridge, the founder and CEO of The Learning Moment, has also co-authored “Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called, ‘Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A’” with leadership expert Ken Blanchard.
The owner of a lot purchased for $5 million in December on U.S. 280 in Birmingham, Alabama, plans a New Day Car Wash location on the property. The lot is the former home of Lloyd’s Restaurant and construction of the car wash site is already underway. New Day Car Wash currently has two locations in operation in the Birmingham area and three more with plans to open soon, including the site on U.S. 280.
The recent grand opening of the Moo Moo Express Car Wash location in Hilliard, Ohio, raised $10,880 for the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation. Through its programs, the nonprofit promotes youth health, wellness, education, and amateur hockey. Moo Moo Express currently operates 35 sites in central Ohio and 107 express car washes across Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Hampton Roads, Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa.
A second location in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, was recently opened by ModWash in the Upper Allen Township area of Mechanicsburg. The number of car wash openings in central Pa. continues to grow. The car wash combines a fun vibe with the latest technology and amenities, including the bug prep for all washes, free vacuums, air tools, automatic mat cleaners, window cleaner and microfiber towels. The company operates more than 120 sites on the East Coast.
Summit Wash Holdings, the parent company of Waters Car Wash, recently opened a new Waters location at 1850 North Semoran Blvd. in Orlando, Florida. The new express car wash location is the company’s 24th site, with additional expansion planned. “Our expansion in the greater Orlando area supports our company’s strategic vision, our existing customer base and the growing community,” said Kevin Matthews, COO of Summit.
Express Wash Concepts continues its expansion in central Ohio with the grand opening of its latest Moo Moo Express Car Wash location in Columbus. Currently, EWC operates 36 Moo locations in central Ohio and a total of 108 across Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Hampton Roads and Pittsburgh. The new location will offer free car washes through March 23. For every Unlimited Wash Club sign-up, Moo Moo Express will donate $10 to the central Ohio-based non-profit Growlers Dog Bones.
A fundraising event, Shine for Shelter Car Wash, to support Rapid Shelter Columbia’s mission of assisting individuals experiencing homelessness is scheduled to be held on April 25 at Riverfront Park in Columbia, South Carolina. All proceeds will directly support client services and initiatives that aid individuals experiencing homelessness and the dedicated service providers who support them. Monetary donations will go directly toward essential services and Rapid Shelter Columbia residents.
The city council of Kimball, Nebraska, has given final approval to provide a $25,000 grant to Patriot Car Wash. The grant was approved in January 2024. A letter from Jeff and Shellon Anderson, the car wash owners, said the car wash is currently operating at 50 percent. They are waiting for the automatic wash bay to be completed, but the self-wash and vacuum bays are open. Issues arising from an electrical inspection have delayed the project.
Construction is under way for a new Tidal Wave Auto Spa location in Billings, Montana, on a site that housed a former Golden Corral restaurant and encompasses about 1.3 acres. The site would be the 21st car wash operation in the city of about 120,000 residents. Tidal Wave is now the fourth-largest conveyor car wash company in the nation with 290 locations sprawling 30 states.
Shine & Roll Car Wash recently opened its first location at 3610 Centennial Dr. in Memphis, Tennessee, which will serve the southeast Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville areas. Shine & Roll is a new venture by the owners of Rock & Roll gas stations, which have operated in the area for two decades. Shine & Roll celebrates Memphis’ vibrant spirit and is inspired by the high energy and timeless appeal of rock & roll.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash, one of the fastest-growing car wash brands in the nation, will open its second location in Summerville, South Carolina, this month. The location will open on Friday (March 21) and offer free washes through March 30. With over 240 franchise locations across North America, Tommy’s Express is ranked No. 1 in the car wash category on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list, as well as being recognized on the list of ‘Fastest-Growing Franchises.’
A new Cobblestone Express Car Wash location is being built in Laveen, Arizona. The 5,900-square-foot facility is being built on 1.35 acres and will include a car wash tunnel, electrical room and 30 self-serve covered vacuum stations. The car wash is one small part of a vacant 16.6-acre parcel which was slated to become a strip mall at one time. The location of the car wash was initially supposed to be a gas station.
Champion Xpress Carwash recently presented a check for $2,166 to Maryville (Tennessee) High School as part of the grand opening of its newest location. For the first two weeks since the site’s opening, the car wash collected and donated $1 per wash to the MHS athletics. “We are blessed to have the opportunity to expand into this market,” said Trey Merchant CEO of Champion Xpress Carwash. “It is exceedingly important to our mission to give back to the communities that give so much to us.”
A new Hoffman Car Wash site recently opened on Broad Street in Glens Falls, New York, which features technology from Hoffman’s equipment-manufacturing division, Hoffman InnovateIT. As part of its grand opening, the site is offering free car washes through Sunday (March 23). Hoffman is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the Albany, N.Y., area for close to 60 years and now operates 33 sites.
AquaSonic Car Wash recently broke ground on its first location in Tampa, Florida. AquaSonic is a new brand whose creation was announced in January 2024, by the London and West Palm Beach, Florida-based Henley Investment Management as its first entrance into the U.S. car wash market. The car wash operator recently announced a new strategic investment from AlphaEdge Investment Management, a subsidiary of the United Heritage Financial Group, which would encompass 14 AquaSonic sites.
Construction is nearly completed for the new Unlimited Wash-Rite Express Car Wash, which is set to open on DiGregory Avenue in Steubenville, Ohio, in mid to late April. The city council was told a traffic impact study was conducted for the Wash-Rite location, and it met the necessary requirements. Wash-Rite also has locations in Weirton, Wintersville, Moundsville, and East Liverpool.
A proposal to convert the site of a former bank into a Washville Car Wash location in Marlborough, Massachusetts, has run into opposition from neighbors. Neighbors on an adjacent street said they were concerned about water runoff since the site sits atop a hill. Other complaints focused on traffic issues. Several city council members asked for more information, including a traffic study.
Raceway Car Wash recently announced the acquisition of Foothill Express Car Wash, located on Foothill Boulevard in Fontana, California. This acquisition marks Raceway’s 45th location and the 12th in California. Foothill Express, established in 2018, is a state-of-the-art facility featuring a 120-foot express tunnel and 25 vacuum stations. The site will be upgraded and rebranded. Raceway, which already has one location in Fontana, operates locations across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas, with plans for continued expansion.
Express Wash Concepts recently announced the grand opening of its 11th Clean Express Auto Wash location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this one on Steubenville Pike. As part of the grand opening, the site will offer free car washes through March 30 and donate $10 to the Montour Youth Soccer Association for each customer who signs up for the Wash Smart Unlimited Club special. EWC currently operates 109 locations across Pittsburgh, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus and Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Earlier this month, a fire destroyed the Croswell Car Wash in Croswell, Michigan, that included self-service bays and an automatic wash. Firefighters cleared the four-bay facility shortly after about two hours. No injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze was not immediately determined.
