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:
Coinciding with the recent opening of a site in Hickory, North Carolina, Tommy’s Express Car Wash recently announced it has entered into a partnership with Lenoir-Rhyne University to become the exclusive car wash of LR Athletics. The collaboration will provide LR supporters and the Hickory community with promotions and exclusive discounts and the brand will have a strong presence at LR athletic events throughout the year.
Waters CarWash, one of the car wash brands owned by Summit Wash Holdings, has opened a new location in Oviedo, Florida. The location is the 25th for the company. “Our continued growth in the greater Orlando area – now with a new location in Oviedo – aligns perfectly with our strategic vision and commitment to serving our loyal customers,” said Kevin Matthews, COO of Summit. “Oviedo is a vibrant, growing community, and we’re excited to bring our premium car wash experience to even more customers in the area.”
A new Quick Quack Car Wash site is currently under construction on West Valley Mall Blvd. in Union Gap, Washington. The new car wash facility will include drive aisles, vacuum stations, a pay station and office building, according to a city building permit. Quick Quack, founded as a privately owned company in 2004 in Sacramento, Calif., is one of the largest operators in the country with around 275 sites across five states.
A local development group, Benedict Holdings, building two new business on property in Galesburg, Illinois – a Laundry Lounge and Precision Touchless Car Wash. Precision Touchless car wash will offer a 24-hour, two-bay, touchless washing system, including the advanced Petit 360 I XT. It is designed to accommodate a range of vehicles, from standard cars to vans with ladder racks, dually and service trucks.
The Wheeling (West Virginia) Planning Commission recently denied a request for preliminary site approval of a new Wash-Rite Express Car Wash in the city’s Clator neighborhood. The commission cited insufficient information in its decision. Officials noted that numbers from a traffic study – if completed – would likely show that the main access road cannot handle the additional traffic that the car wash would attract. Wash-Rite originally sought a site on Diamond Avenue, but a rezoning request was denied.
A long-planned bridge replacement project in South Palm Springs, California, has raised concerns about the loss of customer traffic for a local business, the Desert Hand Car Wash, according to a report by NBC Palm Springs. The construction on the bridge, which spans Tahquitz Creek, would reduce four traffic lanes down to two and eliminate a center turn lane, making it very difficult for customers to reach the car wash, which is the only business in the immediate area.
Two new car wash operators have arrived in Everett, Washington – Quick Quack Car Wash and Tommy’s Express Car Wash. The Quick Quack, which opened this month, is a rebranding of a location that was part of their acquisition of Glint, which included six locations in Washington. They will host five days of free car washes in June. The Everett Tommy’s Express location recently had its groundbreaking and is the first for Tommy’s in Washington State.
Three people were hospitalized after a driver struck five vehicles in the parking lot of the Russell Speeder’s Car Wash on Main Avenue in Norwalk, Connecticut, on Monday morning. In a news release, local police said they received reports around 10 a.m. Monday of a multi-vehicle crash at the car wash. When first responders arrived, they found several vehicles had been damaged in the parking lot. The driver of the car that struck the vehicles was among those taken to the hospital. The accident remains under investigation.
The famed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will join in a grand opening celebration for the Tommy’s Express Car Wash location in west El Paso, Texas. The group nicknamed “America’s Sweethearts,” and first formed in 1961, will be on hand from 4 to 7 p.m. CT today (April 23). The visit comes ahead of the ‘Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders On Tour’ stop in El Paso, which is scheduled for May 31 at the Abraham Chavez Theatre.
Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Zippy Auto Wash has two new locations coming online soon – one in Van Buren Township, Mich., and another in Milan, Mich. The car wash operator, founded in 2007, currently has six open locations – in Ann Arbor, Saline, Canton, and Dexter. Zippy locations are equipped with free vacuums, air fresheners, towels, air pistols, glass wipes and mat wash and dry stations.
Each year at the International Carwash Association’s Car Wash Show, a few of the hundreds of exhibitors that make up the event are honored for the creative, engaging and visually appealing booths and displays through the “Brian Campbell Best Booth Awards.” This year’s winners were announced at the conclusion of the event – Motor City Wash Works (Booth 6060) won Best Large Booth Award; WashCard Systems (Booth 1847) won Best Medium Booth Award; and Wanner Pumps (Booth 1446) won Standout Exhibit Award.
A new Splash In Eco Car Wash location in a new development southeast of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, has a Summer 2026 target opening date. The 4,025 square-foot express tunnel wash facility would be the first in the state for the car wash operator, which is based in La Plata, Maryland, and has more than 50 sites across Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. The car wash would be paired with a Dash In convenience store (both are operated by the Wills Group).
Russell Speeder’s Car Wash has preliminary plans submitted for a new site in Enfield, Connecticut, which most recently was home to a restaurant. Russell Speeder’s is owned by Summit Wash Holdings and has more than 30 locations across four states. Summit recently announced it would be rebranding all new locations and acquisitions across the Northeast and Midwest to “Speeders.”
The newest Tommy’s Express Car Wash location is hosting a grand opening today and Saturday (May 2-3) in Saratoga Springs, Utah. The site is partnering with the Primary Children’s Hospital (serving Utah County) to mark the occasion with all donations and proceeds going to benefit the hospital. Grand opening activities include free car washes, spin-to-win prizes, raffle giveaways, and on-site vendors. Tommy’s Express has more than 250 locations across the country.
Raceway Car Wash is hosting a grand opening celebration this weekend at its newest location at 16345 Foothill Blvd. in Fontana, California. Formerly operated as Foothill Express Car Wash, this site has undergone extensive upgrades to align with Raceway’s commitment to speed, quality, and convenience. Today, Saturday and Sunday (May 2-4), the site will feature several limited-time promotions, including free car washes and a discounted membership offer. Raceway, founded in 2015, has 45 locations across four states.
Team Car Wash will kickoff a two-week celebration on Saturday of its newest site located in Roselle Park, New Jersey. The company will donate 50 percent of all sales in the Casano Center’s Community Food Pantry. Among the activities: Free car washes will be available for two weeks; the first 100 customers will receive one month of unlimited washes; air freshener giveaway; and exclusive discounted unlimited membership deals. This is Team Car Wash’s 13th location.
Construction is on schedule for a new Tagg-N-Go Car Wash location in Price, Utah, with an expected opening date this summer. Tagg-N-Go currently has more than 20 locations in Utah, Nevada and Idaho. The car wash brand recently announced it had acquired Rubber Ducky and Snake River Car Wash, adding seven more locations – all in Idaho.
Construction is set to begin this month on a new Smitty’s Car Wash location at 19220 Blanco Rd. in San Antonio, Texas. The new 5,800-square-foot tunnel car wash is estimated to cost $2 million and slated for opening in March 2026. Smitty’s washes include several options, including tire shine, ceramic coating, bumper bug prep and hot wax shine. Among the amenities offered are free vacuums, towels, mat cleaners, cleaning bottles and detailing air. Smitty’s has nine locations across Texas.
A new Buddy Bear Car Wash location recently opened in Lyons, Illinois, which is the 17th site for the car wash brand that has been in business for more than 50 years in the Chicagoland area. The brand is named after owner Phil DeGeratto’s grandfather, known as “Papa Bear,” and his father, Phillip, nicknamed, “Buddy Bear.” With every new location that opens, the first 10,000 cars receive free car washes.
An electrical fire in September 2023 did extensive damage to the Classy Chassis Car Wash in Lakewood, Washington, but the site is planning a grand reopening celebration for May 16-18. Among the activities will be free car washes, giveaways and prizes (including one-year free washes, free professional details and oil changes) and a bouncy house for kids on May 18. In addition, the site will raise money for three nonprofits – Lakewood Baseball Club, Lakewood Boys & Girls Club and Lakewood YMCA.
A new Suds Deluxe Car Wash site opened recently in Round Rock, Texas, near Interstate 35. The family-owned automatic car wash offers single car washes and monthly package deals starting at $19.99. Among the amenities offered are free vacuums, leather conditioners, car fragrances, glass cleaners and air wands. Suds Deluxe, founded in 2019, is based in Texas with nearly 15 locations open across Central Texas and Houston, including: Austin, Georgetown, Kyle, San Antonio, San Marcos, Houston, Pasadena, Stafford, Sugar Land, and Tomball.
The Buster’s Car Wash in Malta, New York, is raising money this month in honor of National Dog Rescue Day and animal euthanasia awareness. Through May 24, Buster’s Car Wash is offering customers a chance to donate to 8Acre K9 Rescue and Rehabilitation when they purchase a car wash. The nonprofit works to rescue and rehome vulnerable dogs at risk of being euthanized. In addition, the rescue will host an adoption clinic at the car wash from 1-4 p.m. ET on May 24. Buster’s will match donations of up to $500 made on the day of the clinic.
Express Wash Concepts recently announced the grand opening of the company’s newest Green Clean Express Auto Wash located at 833 Battlefield Blvd. in Chesapeake, Virginia. Through May 11, the new Green Clean location will offer free “Ceramic 4 Ultra” signature washes. The site will also donate $10 for each Unlimited Wash Club sign-up to the Virginia Zoo. EWC currently operates more than 113 locations across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. More than 25 additional EWC locations are scheduled to break ground or open through the end of the year, including four more in Virginia.
Quick Quack Car Wash recently opened a new location at 1590 Vineyard Rd. in Roseville, California. It’s the operator’s third location in the city and 106th in the state of California. The site is offering a free top wash package on every vehicle for 12 days. It also features improved drying systems and water recycling, vacuum stall occupancy sensors and “Duck Dunk” towel return bins shaped like basketball hoops.
A former ZIPS Car wash site – and most recently Cascades Car Wash – in Amarillo, Texas, will be available for sale on an online auction next month. The auction will begin at 9 a.m. on June 2 and end at 11:03 a.m. on June 4. The 4,480+ square-foot car wash was built in 2005 and sits on 1+ acres of land. The starting bid is $1.25 million. Tours of the property will be available for prospective buyers on May 16 and 30 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. To register for the auction, click here.
WyoPreps and Rocky Mountain Car Wash are teaming up for a dirty summertime giveaway. Participants can win up to six months of free car washes if your vehicle is voted “dirtiest” of them all. The runner up can receive a three-month car wash membership and third place will get one month of car washes. Take a picture of your dirtiest off-roader, soccer mom van, sports team wheels, or any other vehicle and submit it by May 16. Voting ends May 30.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash is celebrating the grand opening of its newest location in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at 924 Scranton Carbondale Hwy. The site is collaborating with the David Duchnik Memorial Fund and Saint Joseph’s Center to commemorate the occasion. All donations and proceeds made on Saturday (May 10) will benefit the nonprofits and their initiatives to give back. With nearly 250 locations across North America, Tommy’s Express is ranked No. 1 in the car wash category on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list.
The Tagg-N-Go Car Wash in St. George, Utah, was the site of a rear-end collision in its drive-thru car wash last week which left two vehicles heavily damaged. According to the St. George News, the incident involved a white BMW SUV and a gray Tesla sedan. Witnesses said the customer in the BMV mistakenly hit the accelerator while the vehicle was still in drive. The impact sent the Tesla into the rear of a third vehicle, a Subaru that was about to exit the car wash. No one was injured.
A new BlueWave Express Car Wash location recently opened in Schertz, Texas, a suburb of San Antonio. This is the car wash’s second location in the San Antonio metro area, with the first located in Cibolo. Owned and operated by ClearWater Express Wash, BlueWave offers several amenities, including high performance vacuums, high pressure air nozzles, windshield washer fluid, mat cleaning racks, a towel exchange and window cleaner.
Express Wash Concepts is celebrating the grand opening of its ninth Clean Express Auto Wash location in Toledo, Ohio, at 5175 Airport Hwy. EWC currently has 113 express wash sites operating across Toledo, Detroit, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Hampton Roads and Pittsburgh. Through May 18, the Airport Highway site will offer free “Ceramic 4 Ultra” washes to all customers. Wash Smart Unlimited Club memberships can also be purchased for 50 percent off the first three months, with $10 from each sign-up donated to Blessings In Disguise, a local nonprofit providing free medical equipment to those in need.
AND 98 Rock is promoting a “Car Wash Ticket Raid” from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday (May 10) at the new Flagship Car Wash location in Glen Burnie, Maryland. One customer will win a pair of two-day General Admission passes to the May 17-18 Boardwalk Rock Festival in Ocean City, Md. (must be present to win). The radio station will also be giving away vinyl albums every 15 minutes from several artists, including Nickelback, Shinedown, The Struts and Three Days Grace.
Global Partners, a liquid energy supplier and retail operator, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the grand reopening of its newly upgraded Alltown Car Wash location in Taftville, Connecticut. New features include a redone conveyor belt, which will provide cars with easier access to get on the tracks. Lights were also added to the car wash tunnel.
A newly renovated self-service car wash has officially reopened in Maynard, Arkansas, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month. Want a Wash Car Wash now features modern amenities and upgraded infrastructure. The two-bay facility has been outfitted with all-new plumbing and electrical systems. Additional improvements include the installation of an ATM, a drink machine, vending machines and a vehicle vacuum station. The entire site has been painted, and new billboards erected.
GO Car Wash, a nationwide chain with more than a dozen Virginia locations, is the latest business to open its doors in The Crossings at Bartlett Station in Carrolton. The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the site last month. Launched by Imperial Capital in 2019, GO Car Wash has more than 150 locations across nine states – Virginia, New York, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon and California.
A grand opening was recently held of the 10,600-square-foot Folkman Plaza in Hobart, Wisconsin, which includes a new car wash, The Wash Shack, a locally owned and operated company that includes a car wash tunnel offering both touch and touch-free options. Ground broke on the new space in late June 2024. The Wash Shack’s high-speed tunnel is billed as the longest in the state.
There’s a wide range of services available at the new Red Hawk Wash which recently opened in Milton, Wisconsin, about 40 miles southeast of Madison. The site contains an automatic car wash, a pet wash station and – in about a week – two oversized bays should be open for self-washing everything from ATVs to large RVs. The pet wash provides a stainless-steel tub in a climate-controlled room with a fully contained grooming unit, including an 8-horsepower commercial grooming dryer.
Aquatic Capital Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Mister Car Wash Inc. by 76.4 percent during the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,661 shares of the company’s stock after selling 112,139 shares during the period. Aquatic Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Mister Car Wash were worth $253,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Champion Xpress Carwash recently opened its newest location in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, its site in the city. Construction was done by 7B Building & Development, and the site utilizes conveyor car wash equipment from Sonny’s Enterprises. Champion Xpress is a family-owned and operated automated tunnel car wash company with 56 locations across New Mexico, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, and Texas.
Links Car Wash recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in York, South Carolina, its first entry into the Palmetto State. Local officials, the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and community members joined in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We are thrilled to bring the Links experience to South Carolina and to become part of the York community,” said Ryan Hanks, founder and CEO of Links Car Wash. “This expansion represents our continued growth and dedication to delivering a top-tier car wash experience.” The event featured facility tours and free car washes.
Construction is under way for a new Breeze Thru Car Wash location in Laramie, Wyoming, which is also home to the University of Wyoming. The site is tentatively scheduled a grand opening for October. Breeze Thru is a local-owned company based in Fort Collins, Colorado, offers express exterior and flex service car wash services across northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. The Laramie location will be the company’s 16th site.
Whisler Chevrolet has been serving southwest Wyoming since 1956. To show its appreciation to the community, they have kicked off “Whisler Wash Wednesdays.” Every Wednesday throughout the summer, Whisler Chevrolet will be at What-A-Wash car wash at 1501 9th St. in Rock Springs, Wyoming, between noon and 1 p.m. and will purchase every customer’s car wash during that hour.
Speeders Car Wash, which Summit Wash Holdings recently rebranded from Russell’s Speeders, has opened a new location at 79 Boston Post Rd. in Orange, Connecticut. It’s the 70th car wash property for Summit (which also owns Waters Carwash). “Our continued growth in Connecticut reflects our dedication to providing exceptional service and enhancing the communities we serve,” said Ron Deimling, VP of Field Marketing for SWH. “We are excited to open our new location in Orange.”
The Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) in Anniston, Alabama, will host its fourth semi-annual free car wash event for service members, veterans and their families on May 23 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) at X-Treme Car Wash. The event is a token of appreciation for veterans and an opportunity to provide substance abuse prevention materials and resources. It is funded through the Service Members, Veterans and their Families Grant the agency was awarded. ASAP hosted two similar events last year, with 120 participants in October and 116 in May.
James Blea, site leader of the Champion Xpress Carwash location on Juan Tabo Boulevard in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been named the company’s “Champion of Q1, 2025.” The quarterly recognition honors one site leader or assistant site leader for outstandings efforts and achievements. In giving him the award, the company said Blea consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication and work ethic, delivers top-notch customer service and steps in on his days off to support other sites.
A grand opening celebration is planned for Friday (May 16) at a new Kosy Clean Express Wash in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Brian “B-Mo” Montgomery and Breck Riley from radio station Country Kicks 96 will broadcast from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by for a free car wash, a chance to win a car wash kit, and other fun opportunities.
