COLUMBUS, IN
A pair of entrepreneurs here have taken over a former Sparkle Car Wash here, The Republic reported.
The April 19 story stated that the new owners have been in the carwash business for six years. The partners are in the midst of upgrading the recently acquired business.
“We were approached by the bank that held the note on the business about coming in and taking it over,” Partner Terry Riggs said in the article.
The deal was official on March 1, but the wash is not open yet due to the upgrades. Top Dog signage will be added soon; it will be Top Dog’s second location in Columbus.
PAYSON, AZ
A carwash that had been neglected for years is now open again for business and under new ownership, according to a Payson Roundup report.
The April 16 story said all six self-serve bays and all of its vending machines now accept credit cards and have all new equipment.
New owner Curtis Tremblay, who spent four months renovating the wash, installed new pumps, brushes, hoses, surveillance equipment and cleaning products for tires. The wash can also accommodate RVs.
Tremblay said his best site improvement was hiring 80-year-old Ben, who serves as the carwash’s caretaker. “He takes a lot of pride in his work,” he said in the story.
TYLER, TX
The historical Ben Fitzgerald real estate building, designed by architect Bruce Goff, is being torn down to make way for a new carwash, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported.
The April 16 story said Goff was inspired by architect Frank Lloyd Wright,
The property’s new owner, Jeff Reich, of Reich Enterprises, said the other two buildings in the property, the London Shop Antiques, and the Midas Muffler shop, will also be demolished.
The site, which went on the market for $850,000 in August, is 1.3 acres.
“We didn’t realize the architect was famous when we bought the building,” Reich said in the story. “The building had asbestos in it, which had to be removed before it could be demolished,”
As for the new carwash, Reich said the exterior will be red brick and trimmed in a cream color, and the sign will be made of brick as well. Reich said he is thinking of placing a plaque on the property in honor of the former building.
CLOVIS, CA
Surf Thru Express Car Wash will spend $600,000 on a new location that will open this summer, TBJNow reported.
The March 15 story stated that the wash will be open for business by late July or early August. The business will create 16 new jobs that will include four or five full-time positions.
Surf Thru currently has washes in Fresno, Clovis and Visalia that have performed well, leading to the new location.
“There are a lot of people and a lot of traffic within a mile of the location, with fantastic access and visibility,” Todd Gall, co-owner for Surf Thru, said in the story.
The contractor for the build was Pickett & Sons Construction Inc.
SAN DIEGO
La Jolla Custom detailing redid a vacant do-it-yourself carwash that sat empty for quite a while, according to a LaJollaPatch.com story.
The April 26 story stated that owner Steven Massey had been in the mobile detailing industry for 14 years, but decided to open up a permanent location in Windansea because of the city’s large number of exotic cars.
La Jolla offers a wide variety of services ranging from restoration, preservation and maintenance of car interiors and exteriors that range in price from $15 to $295.
“We are one of the only 100 percent hand wash locations in La Jolla and we’re trying to be the best,” Massey said. “You won’t find any machines here.”
La Jolla uses hand-picked waxes, cleaners, conditioners, polishes and cleaning compounds.
ANNISTON, AL
The new Anniston Super Wash was previously known as the Great American Car Wash, The Anniston Star reported.
The April 14 story stated that the reopened wash has little in common with its predecessor. The location has all-new automatic washing equipment and a custom-made vacuuming area.
The lobby includes a coffee shop with hardwood floors, a leather couch, tables and chairs and free Wi-Fi. The coffee is free, but customers can purchase candy or snacks at the counter.
The couple who opened the wash also own Oxford Super Wash and previously owned a party store.
The basic wash costs $5 while a full detail runs $12. The business also offers a $30 monthly package for unlimited washes.
CHICAGO
A newly constructed rental car center at Midway International Airport here now puts eight companies in the same spot, NBCChicago reported.
The April 9 story stated that the $55 million facility replaces the separate counters and parking lots that were located around the airport. It puts car rental companies Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, Thrift and Enterprise together in a single location.
“It’s just easier for the customer to navigate. It’s easier for the rental car organizations, creating a one-stop shop for them. They can fuel. They can turn their vehicle around quickly, washing and preparing it for the next customer all on site,” Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino said in the story.
Water used to wash the rental vehicles will be recycled, and the center uses solar panels and wind turbines to create electricity. Also, a single fleet of shuttle buses fueled by bio-diesel will now use a dedicated road to move passengers between the airport and the center.
The project’s construction began in August 2011, and it was funded by airport revenue bonds backed by a fee paid by rental car customers for the past eight years.
CHICAGO
A new state-of-the-art Acura dealership here underwent extensive renovations and added a number of unique features, greenroofs.com reported.
The April 8 posting stated that McGrath Acura of Downtown Chicago’s renovation took a 47,000-square-foot facility and added on 10,550 square feet. The update added a new service center, parts department and carwash.
In addition, the property now includes a green roof that receives full sun and a parking lot made using permeable pavers.
“The pavers are designed to reduce the impervious area of the project and allow for storm water management in keeping with the City of Chicago’s best management practices. The pavers also serve as a walkway which extends along the Chicago River to an outdoor patio and sitting area where an ornamental fence frames the property,” the story noted.
FLAGSTAFF, AZ
A family here admitted to being clueless about the car care business when they bought the multi-profit Speedi Car Wash in 2011, azdailysun.com reported.
The March 10 story stated that, over the past two decades, the family has owned hotels, a dry cleaning chain, a car lot, a rental car business, a strip mall and a flower shop. They spent approximately $3 million to add the carwash/c-store/gas station and hot dog drive-thru.
Pragna Perma bought the gas station for $1.65 million. Then, friends helped him finance $1.4 million in renovations when the banks refused to help.
Unfortunately, the project went over budget by $400,000. Almost everything on the property was rebuilt in some way, Pragna noted in the story.
The family is now planning to hold several fundraisers at the carwash. Proceeds from events held in April will benefit the American Cancer Society and two high schools.
ROME, GA
A downtown corridor here will receive an update when a strip shopping center and self-serve carwash are torn down, Rome News-Tribune reported.
The April 1 story stated that a new Goo Goo Express Wash is being developed for the space, and it will take up nearly all the real estate.
Owner Brian Dulaney noted in the story that the Goo Goo wash would be similar to the carwash facilities he owns in Memphis and Chattanooga. “It’s going to take up the rest of that block,” he said in the story. “We’ll be taking down Hana’s Bakery, AC Specialty Electronics, all that shopping center and the existing self service car wash.”
Dulaney and his partners have over two dozen Goo Goo locations in eight states including Georgia, Michigan and Texas.
“It’ll be high-tech, ATM-type machine type things, all up to date, computerized,” Dulaney continued in the article. “It’ll be a new experience for Rome, a lot bigger than our current locations.”
