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:
NASCAR Car Wash, an official licensee of America’s premier motorsport, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Saturday (May 17) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event features free food, giveaways, and a chance to win a free annual wash club membership. The NASCAR Car Wash in Rock Hill offers an advanced express wash system that prioritizes both convenience and quality, utilizing a state-of-the-art dual belt conveyor system. Amenities include vacuum stations, air guns, towels, glass cleaner, mat cleaning equipment and a pre-treat “Pit Stop” area with free tire air and windshield washer fluid.
Hoffman Car Wash invites the community to help fight hunger during its 14th annual Spring Food Drive. On Saturday and Sunday (May 17-18), customers who donate a non-perishable food item at any exterior or full-service Hoffman location will receive a free Ultimate Car Wash as a thank you. This year, donations will support 21 regional food pantries across upstate New York and southern Vermont, which will provide much-needed supplies to families and individuals facing hunger.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash is celebrating the grand opening of its newest location in Dayton, Ohio, at 4476 Brandt Pike. The site will donate a portion of all proceeds made today (May 16), to the Girl Scouts, Peace and Tranquility Lake Corp., and Miss Teen Dayton Mackenzie Gibson. Free washes will be available from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Guests can also enter giveaways for Dayton Dragons baseball tickets and enjoy food and beverages outside the vacuum area.
A new Heroes Car Wash is expected to open this fall in Cornelius, North Carolina, on the site of the former Carolina Auto Springs on West Catawba Avenue. The facility will include state-of-the-art car wash equipment, as well as 28 customer vacuum and amenities stations. Heroes Car Wash was founded in 2018 and currently has locations in Cary, Asheville, Salisbury and Wilson – all in North Carolina. A second location in Cary is also expected to open soon.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash is celebrating the grand opening of three new locations – in Visalia, California; Norfolk, Virginia; 4922 S. 202nd Ave. in Omaha, Nebraska. These are the company’s first sites in Visalia and Norfolk and fourth in Omaha. Guests visiting any of the three new sites will receive free car washes through Sunday (May 25). 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 Brooksville (Florida) City Council recently unanimously approved the first reading of a measure to limit future growth of car washes, marijuana dispensaries and storage facilities in the city located north of Tampa. Applications for such businesses already in process can move forward. The second and final reading is scheduled for Monday (May 19).
El Car Wash is partnering with Rotten candy brand for a summer giveaway to give a tasty twist to your next car wash. On Saturday (May 24), starting at noon at all El Car Wash locations, existing members – and new members who sign up on-site – will receive a free bag of Rotten candy and an exclusive online Rotten discount for ECW members. Supplies are limited. Eat Rotten candy contains 60 percent less sugar and utilizes ingredients like monk fruit, allulose, and prebiotics to reduce the sugar content. ECW has 72 locations across Florida and Michigan with 15 more slated to open this year.
A former IHOP restaurant location could become a new Club Car Wash location in Overland Park, Kansas, if the Overland Park Planning Commission gives its approval. The plan for the new site calls for a roughly 5,000-square-foot car wash with 21 vacuum bays. It would be the fifth car wash facility in Johnson County. Club Car Wash offers multiple tiers of memberships, offering unlimited monthly washes (beginning at $22 monthly. Customers can also opt for single washes (begin at $10).
The City Council of Mentor, Ohio, will hold a public hearing on today (May 20) in the Mentor Municipal Center to discuss an application for a conditional use permit to allow a new Clean Express Auto Wash location at 9361 Mentor Ave. The permit has been submitted by Express Wash Concepts and Boston Market Real Estate Company. Clean Express currently has more than 32 locations across the areas of Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit and Pittsburgh.
WashU Car Wash recently announced the opening of its newest location at 311 E. Loop Dr. in Wheaton, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. This location marks the company’s 11th location in the Chicagoland area and 13th site incorporated into the WashU brand. This new location offers a combined approach to exterior and interior auto cleaning with state-of-the-art tunnel experience and numerous free amenities, including vacuums, mat cleaners, compressed air, towels and cleaning spray. To celebrate the grand opening, WashU’s Founder’s Club Unlimited Wash Plan costs one cent for the first month of membership.
Akron, Ohio-based chemical provider Qual Chem has added Matt Unger to its sales team in Boston, Massachusetts. Unger brings extensive experience in water treatment, holds a license in wastewater operations and has over 15 years of car wash industry experience. Unger currently sits on the New England Car Wash Association’s board as Car Wash Supplier Vice President. Unger will focus on supporting New England Qual Chem car wash partners and the national distributor network.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana recently received $10,000 from Mike’s Carwash following a successful “Get a Wash, Give a Future” fundraiser. On April 26, Mike’s Carwash locations around Fort Wayne, Indiana, donated half of the proceeds earned from their Ultimate and Ultimate+Ceramic washes to BBBS for the 16th annual campaign.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash will celebrate the grand opening this weekend of its first location in Hickory, North Carolina. Through Saturday, there will be food, fun activities and chances to win various prizes, including a raffle. All raffle proceeds will be donated to Safe Harbor, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women rebuild, renew and recover. Half of the money earned from washes on Saturday will go to Viewmont Elementary School to support student education.
Registration is now open for the Car Wash Show Europe, which will take place on Sept. 24-25 atEXPO Greater Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Car Wash Show Europe is the leading event for the professional car wash industryin Europe. Exhibitors from around Europe will showcase their latest products, services and innovative technological solutions over two days. There will also be education sessions and networking dinners. Exhibiting at Car Wash Show Europe is an excellent opportunity to present your company to the entire car wash sector of Europe. More info here.
The Super Suds Car Wash in North Platte, Nebraska, recently presented the North Platte Public Schools Foundation with a donation check for $2,200. The donation stems from a promotion the Super Suds site and the North Platte Public Schools Foundation recently teamed up for that allowed customers to wash their cars to support all seven elementary schools to help fund special projects. So far, the Super Suds site has donated $3,000 to North Platte Public Schools and North Platte Catholic Schools.
Mint Express Car Wash is expected to open a new location in Missouri City, Texas, by mid-June. The site will offer an exterior automated car wash as well as exterior and interior detailing services. Mint Express offers monthly and annual membership plans, multiple wash packages featuring ceramic coatings, carnauba wax and wheel cleaning as well as hand waxing, leather conditioning and headlight restoration. Mint Express has a handful of other locations in the Houston, Texas area.
A recent vote by the Auburn (Indiana) Plan Commission recommended striking a condition from the city’s Building, Planning and Development Department with regard to an amended development plan from Mike’s Car Wash, will allow the development to move forward. The new 3,900-square-foot car wash will be located at 1501 W. 7th Street. The revision in the plan had to do with traffic management around the location.
After several months of consideration, Perrysburg (Ohio) City Council recently approved a modification to zoning for car auto wash businesses. At a meeting earlier this month, the council voted in favor of amending the language, allowing new car washes to be constructed with a minimum of one-half mile radius from existing car washes. There was one dissenting vote.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash has broken ground on its second location in the state of Alaska, building on the site of a former car wash (Alaska Laser Wash) on Debarr Road in Anchorage. The site is anticipating a grand opening in early 2026. Tommy’s Express arrived in Anchorage last fall with the opening of the flagship location on Abbott Road. The local franchisee, Wild Pines Ventures, bought rights to six additional Alaska locations.
Bubble Bath Car Wash recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest location at 671 10th St. in Floresville, Texas. The site offers eco-friendly “bubble baths” for vehicles, along with free vacuums, mat cleaners, and air hoses. Bubble Bath was founded in 2008 with its first location in San Antonio. In 2023, Bubble Bath joined the QuikTrip Corporation, enhancing its service offerings. The company now currently has 13 operating locations, all in the San Antonio metropolitan area.
The City Council of Revere, Massachusetts, recently held a public hearing on an application submitted by New York Capital Investment Group of Canton to build a new Prestige Car Wash location in the city at 350 Squire Road. The proposal will next go before the council’s zoning subcommittee before coming back before the full council for a potential vote on approval. Prestige operates about 25 locations throughout the state. Many of its locations also offer gas stations and convenience stores. Three locations also offer dog washes.
The Gary (Indiana) Common Council recently approved a special use permit for a car wash and used auto dealership at 5800-06 W. 5th Ave. A special use permit would allow the owner to use the property outside its traditional zoning restrictions, which was originally BE-1 (shopping centers or large stores). The owner’s application was approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals last month. The property had previously been used as a gas station.
Mister Car Wash recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Denver, Colorado. The new, state-of-the-art location joins Mister’s growing presence in Colorado, where the company already operates 10 locations in cities including Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Pueblo. The Denver opening is the company’s first in the state’s largest city. Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Mister Car Wash operates over 500 locations and has North America’s largest car wash subscription program.
The newest location of Cave Wave Car Wash recently opened in Longview, Texas. The site is impressive, with a 180-foot over/under conveyor, Petit 360-T system, 18 MacNeil brushes, 48 TSS LED lights and 27 VacuTech Detail valets. This is the company’s third location, with its others in Paris and Texarkana, Texas. The wash includes a Basic Wave Package, Tri Color Falls, tire and wheel cleaner, clear coat protection and high-pressure side blasters.
The Bethlehem (Pa.) City Council recently endorsed changing the zoning classification which will allow the development of a drive-thru food and car wash. Last month, the property’s developer said a likely operator of the car wash would be Cloud10 Smart Wash out of New England, an eco-friendly company that uses 17 to 22 gallons of water per wash. Cloud 10 currently has locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Raindrop Car Wash recently presented a $25,216 donation to the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, concluding its first quarter “Wash Away Hunger Wednesday” initiative. The contribution represents proceeds from every car washed on Wednesdays during the first quarter of 2025, with $1 from each wash allocated directly to support hunger relief efforts within the community. Raindrop’s campaign is a longstanding community initiative designed to transform routine car washes into acts of compassion.
Following a public hearing, the Big Rapids (Michigan) planning commission approved the site plan submitted by Gen 3 Investments for a Tommy’s Car Wash at 1250 Perry Ave. Gen3 Investments is proposing to construct a new, state of the art car wash facility on the southeastern portion of the property. It will include a new 5,303-square-foot building, as well as vacuum spaces and customer parking spaces.
The Brooksville (Florida) City Council recently voted unanimously to approve the second reading of an ordinance that eliminates the permitted uses of medical marijuana dispensaries, car washes and storage unit facilities. No new facilities can be constructed in the future but facilities already in progress can continue and open as planned. Brooksville is a city of roughly 8,000 residents in and the county seat of Hernando County, Florida.
The WhiteWater Express Car Wash in Ionia, Michigan, remains closed after suffering serious damage when powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes recently swept across West Michigan. No reopening date has been set. Part of the roof was ripped off the building, including a torn-away waterproof vinyl layer that left the building exposed to the elements. Some equipment inside was also damaged. Repairs are expected to take at least three more weeks.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was recently held to open a new Clean Freak Car Wash location in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The site is the car wash operator’s first in the Sunshine State. Clean Freak has 30 locations, most located in Arizona, and utilizes a water recycling system and eco-friendly chemicals. Clean Freak’s parent company, True Blue Car Wash LLC, was acquired by the parent company of Circle K. So, those with Clean Freak monthly memberships can also earn discounts on fuel at participating Circle K locations.
Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation’s fastest-growing express car wash companies, is celebrating the grand opening of its newest location in Mason, Ohio. The site is offering free premium car washes through June 4. Additionally, any new customer that purchases an unlimited wash membership during this time will receive their first month for only $9.97. Tidal Wave Auto Spa, founded over 20 years ago in Thomaston, Georgia has 295 express wash locations sprawling 30 states, including three Ohio locations.
The Lancaster (California) Planning Commission recently signed off on a redesigned car wash and retail development that was initially approved in 2023. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit which updates the original site plan by shifting the car wash location. The change opens up more space for cars to line up on-site. The updated plan includes a 3,823-square-foot car wash tunnel, 1,950-square-foot retail tenant building and landscaping and street improvements.
The Birmingham (Alabama) City Council is considering whether to extend a moratorium on new business licenses for automated car washes. A public hearing has been set for June 10. The moratorium, initially enacted in March 2024, was put in place to address concerns raised by the city regarding an influx of car washes. Local residents have spoken out at public hearings previously, raising concerns about increased congestion and noise associated with car washes.
Express Wash Concepts is celebrating the grand opening of its newest Clean Express Auto Wash site in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania – the company’s 12th in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Until June 8 the Bridgeville site will over free “Ceramic 4 Ultra” car washes. Customers can also join the Wash Smart Unlimited Club special for 50 percent off their first three months. Clean Express will donate $10 for each sign-up to the nonprofit Pittsburgh Warriors Hockey. EWC currently operates 118 express wash locations with an additional 25 new locations planned for construction or opening in 2025, including seven Clean Express sites.
Surf Thru Express has opened the first of three planned car washes in the Tri-Cities area of Washington state. The first, located in the city of Pasco, is currently offering free car washes, deals on monthly passes and hosting a food drive to benefit Second Harvest. A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for 2 p.m. on June 10. A second Surf Thru is being built in Kennewick and a third has been proposed for Richland.
Roadrunner Express Car Wash in Blaine, Washington, recently celebrated its grand opening with a large turnout. The car wash utilizes advanced technology that allows it to reclaim about 70 percent of its water. It also uses non-toxic cleaning products that are eco-friendly. The site offers three levels of washes and monthly unlimited plans. Each wash includes free vacuum use, and a Rain-X Graphene Diamond Finish is available as an add-on.
Club Car Wash, one of the fastest-growing express car wash companies in the United States, is celebrating the grand opening this weekend of its newest location in Grand Junction, Colorado. On Saturday, the location will host a special event featuring live radio remotes, special guests and giveaways, including the chance to win free car washes and memberships. Club Car Wash is also offering its best wash – the MVP – for just $1 for a limited time, with all proceeds benefiting STRiVE, a local nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.
Express Wash Concepts has opened its eighth Clean Express Auto Wash location in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. The site is at 20340 Farmington Rd. in Livonia. EWC currently operates has 118 express wash locations across Pittsburgh, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus and Hampton Roads, Va. Through Sunday, the Livonia location is offering free “Ceramic 4 Ultra” signature washes. Customers can also get 50 percent off for the first three months of a new membership. Also, Clean Express will donate $10 to Elmwood Blessing Box, a local nonprofit providing discreet access to food and essential items for neighbors in need.
A new BlueWave Express Car Wash location has opened in Morgan Hill, California. Founded in 2007 in Texas by Daniel Family Companies, BlueWave has 60-plus sites in Texas and California. According to its website, the goal for each car wash at BlueWave is to use the minimum amount of water and provide the best car wash available. Its soft, eco-friendly water is in compliance with local and state regulations.
