In this week’s Market Focus, we cover a charity event and carwash openings and construction.

Crew Carwash raises over $12,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Crew Carwash announced that it is donating $12,400 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, according to a press release.

During its first-ever Boys and Girls Crew fundraiser, which took place Feb. 17-18, Crew Carwash provided a free Ultimate Wash, a $20 value, to any customer who came by the new Merrillville facility, located at 501 W. 81st Ave., the release continued.

Crew accepted cash and credit card donations and is donating 100 percent of all proceeds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, the release added.

The initiative resulted in a total of $12,400 to be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, an organization that enables all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens, the release noted.

“As part of our continued efforts to give back to communities throughout Indiana, we are so happy to give this donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana,” said Sally Grant, executive vice president of Crew Carwash. “This partnership not only helped raise money for this wonderful organization but also gave us the chance to serve first-time customers in the Merrillville area and hope they become lifetime customers.”

Funds raised will benefit six local Boys and Girls Clubs in Lake County, the release stated: Cedar Lake, East Chicago Katherine House, John Will Anderson Gary, Hammond, Lake Station and Merrillville.

The check was presented on Feb. 22nd at the Merrillville Crew Carwash location, the release concluded.

To learn more about Crew Carwash, visit www.crewcarwash.com.

Consumers can connect with Crew on social media Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, visit http://www.bgcnwi.org/ or connect on Facebook.

Wiggy Wash opens third Utah location

OREM, Utah — According to heraldextra.com, a new Wiggy Wash carwash opened on Feb. 16th at West Center St. in Orem, Utah.

The wash features a tunnel length of 215 feet, which is more than what Brent Wignall, the co-owner and founder of Wiggy Wash originally considered getting (205 feet), the article stated.

However, Wignall claimed he needs every foot of the tunnel to give Utah County’s cars the best wash to remove all sorts of dirt and clay particles from vehicles, the article noted.

“You have to have that space and that much equipment for our weather. Utah County’s dirt is like no other place — it’s a type of clay that is hard to clean off a car with just one spray. And you have to have that length, so you can get the back of the car fully clean,” Wignall said.

Wiggy Wash uses vehicle profiling to customize the carwash and a trench system that Wignall and his partners invented “to funnel the vehicle and its water runoff through the tunnel,” the article stated.

“And the lights are fun for the kids. We always overbuild them — we build them taller and wider to keep it as bright as possible, so customers don’t feel like they are in a cave,” Wignall said. “We invented the trench system because it makes it less claustrophobic, and it’s better for maintenance.”

Wiggy Wash has two additional locations in Springville and Spanish Fork, Utah, the article noted, and Wignall sees the company expanding in the near future.

“The reason people are coming to us is because we’re putting out a good product. The conveyorized carwash puts out a safer, far superior product,” he added.

Wignall is not worried about the high amount of competition in the industry right now or that it’s coming from out of state, the article stated; he and his co-founder and partner, Chris Hailstone, feel that, as Utah natives, they know the right way to clean a car in the state.

“We’re trying to be the best in the industry,” Wignall said. “We’re not saying we are, but we’re striving to be. We may not be washing every car in the valley, but we’re doing everything we can do to be the best.”

Sycamore carwash upgrades and reopens

SYCAMORE, Ill. — According to daily-chronicle.com, Sycamore $3 Express Car Wash on DeKalb Ave., previously named Sycamore Auto-Bath, reopened on Feb. 3rd under new ownership and with updated equipment.

Greg Barich took ownership of the wash in March 2016, the article stated, and the renovation began in July.

“We’re happy to be here and happy with the response so far,” Barich said. “We look forward to being part of the community.”

General Manager Ryan Westerman noted that Sycamore Auto-Bath had operated at this location for around 30 years and that the old washing equipment, designed in the early 1980s, was outdated, the article added; for instance, the rims of low-profile tires on newer cars would get damaged.

“I call it an antique carwash,” Westerman said. “It was a touch of service, automatic and also self service; you basically pull in and wash your own vehicle by yourself.”

Westerman also claimed that the old equipment was difficult to replace when parts broke down, the article stated.

“We found that it was time to essentially tear down, rebuild and upgrade, get more current,” he said. “A much more friendly carwash for all the newer vehicles on the road.”

The wash offers five washes ranging from a light $3 wash to “the works” $15 wash, which includes rim washing, clear coat protectant, triple foam polish, tire shiner, rain repellent and a hot wax shine treatment, the article noted.

The wash is automatic and offers free vacuums with purchase as well as a carpet mat cleaner, the article stated.

In addition, the article continued, the wash has a self-serve pet wash station with options for dog shampoo, conditioner, skunk odor eliminator, fragrance and flea and tick treatment.

Sycamore $3 Express Car wash is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We’re local; we’re friendly,” Westerman said. “It’s my opinion and from the feedback from all the other customers, this would be the best-bang-for-your-buck carwash.”  

Carwash and chicken wing restaurant combo under construction

COLUMBUS, Ga. — According to ledger-enquirer.com, a carwash and chicken wing restaurant combo is under construction in south Columbus, Georgia, at 3369 Victory Dr.

The wash and restaurant will be on the property of Los Amigos Tire, a business owned for 15 years by Juan Arevalo that will continue to operate there, the article stated.

According to a city building permit, Arevalo is spending nearly $242,000 on the construction of a 1,955 sq. ft. structure, the article noted.

An employee from the tire shop stated that Arevalo plans to open the new business in approximately six months, the article concluded.