In this week’s Market Focus, we cover an announcement from Quality Car Wash, a partnership, an award, an opening and a groundbreaking.

Express carwash serves over 500,000 vehicles in 2017

HOLLAND, Mich. — Quality Car Wash is pleased to announce that over the 2017 calendar, the Quality Car Wash facility at Waverly Rd. and Chicago Dr. in Holland, Michigan, served a record 515,367 vehicles, according to a press release.

Since its inauguration in late 2015, the wash has become one of, if not the single-highest, carwash producer in the U.S. and a working template for the expansion of sister carwash franchise Tommy’s Express, the release continued.

The 130-foot tunnel wash is a Totally Tommy gas c-store facility and includes an express tunnel carwash, gas station and convenience store, the release noted.

Design highlights include circular stainless steel arches, a rounded acrylic roof, integrated Tim Horton’s drive-through and a centralized Flight Deck for wash control and convenience store checkout, the release added.

According to a representative, “Breaking half a million cars in a year at one wash is remarkable — you just don’t see it in the industry. Credit goes to our outstanding team, who constantly go above and beyond at Waverly and across all our locations, the equipment which is engineered to process as efficiently as possible, and the deep roots our brand has cultivated in the Holland market.”

Representatives from sister company and carwash developer Tommy Car Wash Systems offer tours of the facility for interested parties as well as tours of the Tommy’s Express Car Wash franchise site located in nearby Grandville, Michigan, the release concluded.

ISTOBAL partners with Andretti Petroleum Group

BRISTOL, Va. — ISTOBAL has partnered with Andretti Petroleum Group to provide vehicle wash equipment in the U.S. market, according to a press release.

Andretti Petroleum Group will standardize ISTOBAL equipment at company stores and offer value-added opportunities to its dealer network, the release continued; within this partnership, several ISTOBAL FLEX5 rollovers are already operating in California and Oregon and with many additional units to come.

The Andretti Petroleum enterprise, founded in 1997, is owned by motorsports icons Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti and Managing Partner M.J. Castelo, the release added; the companies include: Peninsula Petroleum, Humboldt Petroleum and Colvin Oil with presence in California, Oregon and Washington.

The organization excels in retail fuels and convenience, wholesale fuels, carwash, lubricants/commercial, transport and fleet/card lock, the release stated.

Andretti Petroleum Group Chairman Mario Andretti commented, “We are dedicated to bringing the best products and services to our customers. Our new ISTOBAL FLEX5 equipment brings the premier rollover carwash in the world to our customers in California, Oregon and Washington. Our initial installations have been smooth and seamless, while yielding terrific results — a real winner.”

ISTOBAL USA Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Sisk noted, “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Andretti Petroleum group, who are on the move and second to none. They are world-class retailers and progressive carwash marketers. We are ecstatic with having racing legend Mario Andretti as an active participant in this alliance. We look forward to Mario being present at ISTOBAL’s booth, signing autographs and visiting with fans at the next International Car Wash Show in Las Vegas on April 26th.”

Sonny’s Carwash College names Instructor of the Year

TAMARAC, Fla. — SONNY’S CarWash College has named Richard Ovalles the recipient of the 2017 Shawn R. Brown Award for Instructional Excellence, according to a press release.

The award was presented at a luncheon by SONNY’S CEO Paul Fazio, the release added.

Ovalles is a 12-year employee of SONNY’S but only began instructing in the CarWash College two years ago, the release continued.

“Although Richard hasn’t been teaching for very long, it comes to him naturally. He’s very patient and goes out of his way to make the students feel comfortable. He is a very worthy recipient,” said Bob Fox, CarWash College Manager.

The Shawn R. Brown is an award given annually to the CarWash College instructor who most exhibits the traits of Shawn Brown, a former instructor and equipment installer whose life was tragically cut short, the release noted.

Past winners include Bryan Hage and, most recently, Jorge Jaramillo, the release concluded.

Second new carwash in Andalusia opening

ANDALUSIA, Ala. — According to The Andalusia Star-News, while Splash Hopper’s Express Wash opened in January, another new carwash is expected to open in the city in February: Roadrunner Express Carwash.

Owner David Floyd, who also has an express carwash in Brewton, Alabama, commented, “I brought this to Andalusia because I believe it will have a positive impact on the community. It’s just like having two gas stations next to each other; it all comes down to the customer, and I assure you they will leave completely clean and happy.”

The theme of Roadrunner Express Carwash will take after Route 66, giving it a desert-like appearance, and the carwash will offer several different wash packages as well as a monthly unlimited wash membership, the article noted.

“It is the future of carwashing,” Floyd said of the new facility. “When you wash your car in the driveway, you will be using city water which has not been conditioned and will leave spots on your car.”

Despite the other new carwash down the road, Floyd is not worried about competition, the article added.

“There is always competition in the car business, whether it’s selling cars or being a part of the service industry,” Floyd said, “It always comes down to what is convenient for the people, and I believe that our quality and service will be what the people want.”

Roadrunner will have four to five employees working per shift to handle customer needs, the article concluded.

Waterway Carwash opening new location

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Waterway Carwash is expected to open its first new city location in years this summer at Kingshighway Blvd. and Southwest Ave.

The site, formerly a BP gas station, will be Waterway’s 21st location and eighth in the city itself, the article continued.

This Waterway will have a slightly different look compared to its other locations, the article noted.

It will be branded as Waterway Express, the article added, and the $4.5 million building will feature two carwash tunnels; however, it will neither include a gas station nor offer full service interior cleaning, instead having self-serve vacuums on the premises.