FAIRBORN, Ohio
Wash It Dean carwash recently held its grand opening after remodeling the former Minute Lane carwash, according to the Fairborn Daily Herald.
Owners Josiah and Jessica Dean spent four months transforming the carwash with new plumbing, wiring and wash equipment.
Jessica Dean adds that none of the existing pipes had been winterized, so they had all burst. “It’s a work in progress,” says Dean, in the article. “But now it’s washing cars which is what we want it to do.”
Josiah Dean is a plumber by trade, so buying the carwash made sense for the couple and their four-week-old daughter.
Carwash employees prep cars by going over tough spots before sending them through the machine, then each car is gone over with a touch-up towel to ensure the dryer did its job.
The carwash also offers a discount for employees of the nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
ANOKA, Minn.
Round Lake Commons LLC, developer of a new carwash, will receive a loan from the city council to assist with sewer access charges, according to abcnewspapers.com.
The council unanimously agreed to the $94,495 loan, which it has also done for five other expanding businesses in the city.
“That’s a lot of money and that has to be paid up front along with all the other costs to get a project in the ground,” says council member Jeff Weaver of the sewer access charges, in the article.
Businesses can also apply for grants to cover those fees. Round Lake had done so, but the council decided to give the business a loan instead.
In the article, the project developer, Brand Dunham, says the new business is trying to use energy efficient equipment.
ST. LOUIS
QuickTrip has purchased two acres for a new location, according to stltoday.com.
The chain applied for a building permit in August to construct a c-store costing $568,896.
Construction could take four to six months to complete, and building could commence in about 90 days. Another company currently leases space in the 1940s warehouse.
The company is also looking at other sites for new stores in the area. Each location employs about a dozen people.
DAYTON, Ohio
Flying Ace Car Wash is taking over an older carwash building for its new business, according to the Dayton Business Journal.
The former inhabitant, Perfect Touch Car Wash, was a self-serve wash, but Flying Ace will feature a 130-foot automatic tunnel.
Three business partners formed Flying Ace Express Far Hills LLC and purchased the land from Suncore LLC for $750,000.
Partner Dan Eisenhauer says that the wash will employ eight people. Prices will range from $5 to $10, and vacuums will also be available.
The carwash is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The building will resemble an airplane hangar to reflect the city’s ties to aviation.
COUER D’ALENE, Idaho
A new Metro Express Car Wash under construction will be able to wash 2,500 vehicles in one day, according cdapress.com.
The 240-foot long tunnel can accommodate about four cars per minute.
The carwash uses a water reclaim system and biodegradable detergents. Digital video cameras track cars and help to know the amount of detergent and water used for each one.
A carwash will cost between $8 and $12. Monthly pass holders can use a VIP lane, and all customers can take advantage of one of the 28 free vacuums.
The carwash will employ about 10 people.
ALCOA, Tenn.
Knoxville-based 3 Minute Magic Car Wash will convert a former Cadillac dealership into a new carwash and office space for itself and its sister company, NDI Group Inc., according to the Daily Times.
Owners Jim and Teri Rooney plan to construct a double tunnel carwash on the property to open in early 2015.
The company used WaterSavers equipment to treat the water it uses, and it uses 40 gallons or less of water per wash.
The dealership formerly housed Airport Cadillac, which closed in 2005 after the business’ affiliation with General Motors ended.
3 Minute Magic Car Wash operates three other locations in the Knoxville area.
WEST FARGO, N.D.
Coborn’s will soon begin construction on a new Cash Wise Foods Store, according to the St. Cloud Times.
The site will feature a grocery store, liquor store and convenience store with a carwash, all covering about 65,000 square feet.
The operation will be open 24/7, hopefully by April. One hundred twenty people will be hired.
St. Cloud-based Coborn’s has 47 stores under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods and Save-A-Lot names employing 7,600 people.
DES PLAINES, Ill.
Two brothers remodeled a former carwash building to open Luxury Auto Salon, according to journal-topics.com.
The business provides detailing, interior, exterior, cleaning, full service and more. Brothers Adam and Sam Jidd will target luxury vehicles, but all cars are welcome at the business.
The building has been empty for about three years, and the pair has put $100,000 into technology upgrades. One piece of technology the Jidds have invested in is a machine that precisely mixes salts for solutions.
A lounge is part of the shop as well. Customers can enjoy free WiFi, sip coffee and buy a sandwich to eat while they wait.
The Jidd brothers also own a car dealership, Jidd Motors, about a half-mile from the new business.
EDWARDS, Colo.
Edwards Station, a multi-profit center, has begun to renovate its carwash, according to the Vail Daily.
The project will replace the current automated carwash with a new high-tech, tunnel-style wash by December.
The former carwash could clean eight cars per hour, but the new tunnel will be able to clean up to 50 cars per hour.
The renovation will cost almost $2 million. Wash quality will improve, and the new equipment will focus on removing magnesium chloride in the winter, and insects in the summer. It will also use soft foam brushes and rollers and green soaps.
Vacuum areas will also be increased, new parking spaces will be added and four electric car charging stations will be installed.
The station’s three-bay self-service carwash will remain open during the fall, and its gas station, c-store, Wendy’s restaurant and express lube are not impacted by construction.
CORNWALL, Ontario
An Irving Oil truck stop redevelopment project has received approval to start the design process, according to standard-freeholder.com.
The city’s advisory committee (PAC) removed a “hold” for high commercial zoning to move the process along.
Developer Cobalt Management will expand fueling service to the north half of the property. The current portion “will be transformed into a trucks-only card-lock fueling depot.”
Plans for the site include relocating the main structure of the facility, which will include a truckers’ lounge, c-store and two quick service restaurants.
Mazda Cornwall operator Mark Conti expressed concern about increased traffic due to the redevelopment, but Cobalt representative Clinton Carr says it’s essential Irving can “compete with a growing trend of larger, one-stop service facilities.”
ATHENS, Ala.
Lucky’s Car Wash celebrated its grand opening by offering a $5 week-long special Sept. 22-27, according to a press release.
Customers paid $5 for every wash on the menu, including the premium wash called “The Shine,” regularly $12.
The Shine is the first wash in the area to use Simoniz’s four-step process, which includes a Lava Bath, Lava Shine, a rinse and waterfall cure and the Lava Seal. Customers can also add hot wax and buff-n-dry to any wash.
The location also offers vacuums, bug prep, window cleaner and towels, all free to customers.
SANFORD, N.C.
Kelly and Terrie Gibson have a new location for their detailing business after a fire destroyed their first location, according to the Sanford Herald.
Because of the fire, Kelly’s Clean Cars has been operating out of a truck with limited supplies and equipment.
The business now has a new and improved location with more space. The new location has its own bathrooms and heat, which the previous location lacked.
In the article, Kelly Gibson says friends and customers were helpful in getting his business into the new 1,200-square-foot space, and he says they haven’t lost any business since moving into the building.
The business had four appointments its first day back.
The Gibsons are grateful to their community for helping them rebuild after the fire.
