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:
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 Rome, Georgia. The new site is offering free premium car washes from Jan. 30, including the opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave’s top-tier wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Any customer that purchases a new membership during that time will get the first month for $9.97.
A fire caused heavy damage to Ellenburg’s Car Wash and Auto Sales location in Greeneville, Tennessee. A Greeneville Fire Department report says the cause of the fire was not immediately known but it originated in a storage area, igniting fiberboard, particleboard and hardboard. Firefighters exited the building then began to fight the fire from above. Firefighters also had to contend with multiple propane tanks inside the building.
Links Car Wash recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony following the completion of a remodeling at its location across from Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. Local officials, the Tampa Bay Chamber, and community leaders were on hand to celebrate the facility’s comprehensive upgrades. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Links is an affiliate of Madison Capital Group and specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of express car wash services.
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A second location for Bubble’s Foam Farm Car Wash is moving forward in Delafield, Wisconsin, at the location that used to have a Hardee’s after the Plan Commission recently recommended approval of a conditional use permit to the Common Council. The express semi-automated car wash would have a farmhouse-style architecture and use reclaimed water to minimize environmental impact.
Arkadios Wealth Advisors, a full-service independent broker dealer and RIA based in Atlanta, Georgia, increased its holdings in Mister Car Wash by 13.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the company’s most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 48,640 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,702 shares during the period, worth $355,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
The latest installment of ZIPS Car Wash’s “Car Wash Convos” – where college student-athletes from across the Southeast are interviewed during “ride along” car washes – features University of Arkansas men’s basketball player, Boogie Fland. Fland shares how he celebrates a victory, his favorite Arkansas tradition and offers a glimpse into his laid-back personality. Season 3 features a total of 18 episodes.
After nearly a year since a fire destroyed the business, The Car Wash in Bedford Heights, Ohio, has reopened. The business has been a staple in the community for nearly 50 years. The site includes a 175-foot heated facility and utilizes 100 percent biodegradable premium soaps, polish, waxes and sealants. It also has a site in North Randall, Ohio.
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Encore Car Wash recently opened a location in Oak Lawn, Illinois, marking the company’s fourth site, all in the Chicago suburbs. A second Oak Lawn site will be added soon. As part of its sustainability efforts, all of Encore’s facilities are built with reclaimed brick with the most recent site built with brick from a previously demolished building on South Pulaski in Chicago.
A new car wash, C.J. Car Wash, is set for a grand opening on Feb. 13 in Concordia, Kansas. The site features an advanced onsite water reclamation system, reducing water consumption. It also utilizes a belt system to move cars through the wash, which allows for bigger vehicles. Other features include a light show in the wash, free amenities and Level 3 DC Fast EV Chargers on-site.
K-Town Real Estate is building a D’Luxe Auto Wash in Kewanee, Illinois, which is scheduled to open on April 1. The site will have two identical washing bays and include new, touchless car wash equipment from Petit Auto Wash Equipment. The 360-iXT equipment allows for 9-foot, 10-inch clearance, dual rear-tire trucks, and up to 23-foot vehicle length. Each bay will have Turbo dryer units and can wash an average of 15 vehicles per hour per bay.
Construction is underway for a new Mister Car Wash location at the site of the former Valley View Mall in La Crosse, Wisconsin, which has been divided into 10 parcels. GMX Real Estate Group out of Illinois has started a $1.5 million project which includes the car wash, a Raising Cane’s and Panda Express location.
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The planning board of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, recently approved a unified development review with stipulations for a new project that includes an automated car wash, gas station and convenience store with drive thru. The approval was contingent on the granting of a special use permit for the gas station/car wash in the Watershed Protection Overlay Zone. The developer, Canton East Holdings LLC, has cleared all regulatory hurdles for the project.
Express Wash Conceptsrecently announced the grand opening of a fourth Detroit metro Clean Express Auto Wash site located at 28740 Mound Road in Warren, Michigan. EWC currently operates 105 express wash locations across Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Hampton Roads and Pittsburgh. An additional 30 EWC locations are scheduled to begin construction or open through 2025, including eight across Detroit.
Matthews Real Estate Investment Services recently completed a portfolio sale in San Antonio, Texas, which includes two self-serve car washes sites operating as Crystal Clean Car Wash and a 34,000-square-foot self-storage asset. The buyer plans to continue operating the car wash and self-storage properties for the foreseeable future.
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The Bubble Bath Car Wash, which started with its first car wash in San Antonio, Texas, in 2008, recently celebrated the grand opening of its 10th location in the city. In 2023, the company joined the QuikTrip Corporation. Two additional locations will be opening soon – another one in San Antonio and one in nearby Floresville, Texas.
Big Peach Car Wash held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week for its newest location in Kennesaw, Georgia. Kituwah, LLC has majority ownership of the Big Peach Car Wash in Kennesaw, sharing ownership with Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. The site is one of 11 in the growing franchise with plans to add 25 more. Big Peach has already broken ground on another location in Asheville, N.C.
Quick Quack Car Wash, the largest and fastest growing chain of car washes in Texas, is giving away the top car wash package on every vehicle through Feb. 16 to celebrate its new car wash in Houston, Texas, on Cullen Boulevard. The new location brings the total number of Quick Quack locations in Texas to 67 including more than 25 in the greater Houston area. Quick Quack has 275 locations in Texas, California, Utah, Arizona, Washington and Colorado and is regularly recognized for its community-building efforts as well as its environmentally friendly business practices.
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WhiteWater Express Car Wash recently announced it has raised over $45,000 in its partnership with Susan G. Komen during last October. The donation will help further the organization’s mission to end breast cancer through critical research, advocacy, and support programs. Throughout October, WhiteWater dedicated a portion of the proceeds from every car wash to Susan G. Komen. The car wash company has raised more than $95,000 since it began partnering with the charity organization in 2023.
Currently under construction, a new car wash in Brownfield, Texas, Brownfield Quick Wash, expects to have its grand opening soon. The site will feature advanced wash technology and eco-friendly practices with key features such as IQ soft touch and touch-free wash options, pay stations with license plate recognition and canopy vacuums.
A new Tidal Wave Auto Spa location will be coming to Birmingham, Alabama, near the city’s Vulcan Park & Museum. According to a press release from Harbert Retail – which represented the seller of the lot on Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd South – TWAS Properties, LLC purchased the lot in a $2.1 million transaction. Tidal Wave was founded in 1999 and is one of the top four conveyor car washes in the country, with more than 275 locations across 30 states.
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Following changes made in the site’s stormwater management, the Millville (Delaware) Town Council has signed off on a new Gander Car Wash location. Gander received conditional-use approval in May 2023. Preliminary site plans were approved in April 2024 and the owner presented the council new plans last week reflecting the stormwater updates. Construction should begin later this month.
Links Car Wash’s recent grand opening weekend event raised $3,680, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida. The events were held at Links’ Tampa and Orlando locations late last month. Customers enjoyed $5 Ultimate Washes throughout the weekend, with all proceeds benefiting BBBS chapters in each region. “We’re overwhelmed by the generosity of our communities in both Tampa and Orlando,” said Ryan Hanks, Founder and CEO of Links Car Wash.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash broke ground on its newest location in Southlake, Texas, which gives the car wash company more than 30 sites in the Lone Star State. Tommy’s signature wash tunnels are designed with floor-to-ceiling windows and a transparent roof, creating an open, bright, and inviting atmosphere. Tommy’s Express has more than 230 locations across the country.
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Another car wash produces a Powerball winner. If you bought a Powerball ticket at Don’s Car Wash in Fargo, North Dakota, you better check it. The ticket sold at the 52nd Avenue South Fargo location is worth $150,000. It matched four white balls and the Powerball. The prize was $50,000 but since the ticket buyer also purchased the multiplier, the prize tripled. Don’s Car Wash will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling the winning Powerball ticket. The holder must claim their prize at the North Dakota Lottery office within 180 days of the draw.
The Brecksville (Ohio) Planning Commission granted final approval on Feb. 6 for a new truenorth Shell gas station, convenience store and car wash on Miller Road. True North Energy will tear down an existing, vacant building – the former home of CrossCountry Mortgage. The new truenorth Shell will consist of eight gas dispensers under a canopy, a 5,400-square-foot store and a 135-foot-long tunnel car wash.
A car wash at a Shell gas station in Rancho Cordova, California, recently caught fire, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said. Fire crews were able to protect the gas pumps, but the fire damaged the nearby mini mart. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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The Royal Oak (Michigan) Planning Commission recently voted to recommend a proposed Sheetz gas station and El Car Wash despite dozens of public comments opposed to the convenience store. The petitioner and property owner, Broder Sachse Real Estate, requested the property be split into three parcels and that two be rezoned from the General Industrial classification to General Business. The issue now goes to the Royal Oak City Commission for final approval.
Tidal Wave Car Wash will celebrate the grand opening of its new location in Crestview, Florida, free premium car washes through Feb. 19. Tidal Wave has 288 express wash locations across the United States, with 22 locations in Florida. In the coming months, the company will open brand-new Florida locations in Kissimmee, Sebring, Orlando and Spring Hill.
Splash Car Wash recently announced two promotions on its executive group. Griffin Kuhn has been promoted to chief operating officer as of December 2024. He began his career with Splash after several years spent in the inner-city of Chicago teaching high school English. Griffin has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and fostering collaboration throughout the organization. Additionally, Garrett Hartman, former senior director of operations, has been promoted to vice president of operations support. He will take responsibility of all training, new store opening efforts, facility oversight, procurement and other key initiative implementation.
LUV Car Wash presented a check for $20,644 to the DONNA Financial Aid Fund during the 18th Annual DONNA Marathon Weekend. The funds were raised through a campaign last October where $1 from every True LUV Single Wash was donated to support breast cancer patients and their families. With its commitment to the Financial Aid Fund, LUV Car Wash invests in a grant program for qualifying breast cancer patients and provides immediate cash grants for families in crisis.
Express Wash Concepts is celebrating the grand opening of its fifth Detroit metro Clean Express Auto Wash location in Southfield, Michigan. The site will offer a free “Ceramic 4 Ultra” signature wash to customers through Feb. 23. Clean Express will donate $10 for each new membership sign-up to Picking Up the Pieces, a local nonprofit that alleviates the obstacles families face with reentry into stable housing. EWC currently operates 106 express wash locations across Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Hampton Roads and Pittsburgh.
As part of the grand opening of a new Surf Thru Express Car Wash location in Sanger, California, the site is offering free “Graphene Extreme” washes through Feb. 23. Surf Thru introduced its Graphene Extreme wash – which provides an enhanced level of protection, shine and durability for vehicles – last year. Surf Thru has approximately 40 locations throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Texas.
