Business openings from around the industry

Ground Breaking – November 2015

Peruse through the latest carwash, detail shop and c-store openings.

PETERSBURG, Fla.

A new hand wash with a mission to help the lives of its employees recently opened at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg, according to 10 News.

The wash hires people who are homeless, out of work or recently released from jail, offering them a chance to earn some income.

“I’m 78 years old and I don’t know what it’s like to be hungry,” said Dr. Mentha Thomas, founder of the carwash. “To me, that hits your heart. That’s a sad place to be unless somebody helps you.”

The business washes more than a dozen cars a day, and each wash costs $20.

Thomas, a church pastor, said she “sees need” in the community. The money raised by the hand wash is split between the employees and her church.

“It’s more than a carwash,” noted Thomas. “It’s my mission in life. I’m just patient, you know, to see it develop into something.”

 

LIMA, Ohio

Owners of 4 Seasons Car Wash will launch their third location, according to the Lima News.

Kyle Benroth, general manager, stated that the third express location, owned by the Benroth family, is scheduled to open in December.

Kyle said that the family currently operates “The Classic” 4 Season Car Wash on 1310 W. Robb Ave. in Lima, which opened in 2009, and then opened “The Express” location in 2014, which is located at 980 Eastown Road.

He continued that the third location will be very similar to the wash on Easton Road.

Construction has already started on the new carwash, which will include hot wash shines, tire shines, liquid fires, propane tank refills, purified drinking water and more.

The Benroth family plans to start the hiring process this November, and the carwash is projected to produce 10 jobs.

The carwash will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

 

OKLAHOMA CITY

Chase Detailing has launched a new mobile carwash and auto detailing service, according to Digital Journal. The business uses less than one gallon of water per car.

The new service offers eco-friendly mobile car detailing throughout the Edmond, Norman, Oklahoma and Tulsa areas.

As part of the new launch, reported the article, Chase Detailing is also offering a corporate program enabling businesses to provide employees with on-site auto detailing.

“We’re excited to be up and running,” said Nicholas Witwer, owner of Chase Detailing. “Our priority is customer service, protection and caring for the environment. With every car we care for, we strive to be ranked [No. 1] in customer satisfaction.”

Chase Detailing offers three packages, such as its “Basic Detail” service for $100, which includes: a premium hand wash, rims and tires detail, exterior and interior window cleaning, interior and trunk vacuuming, mat and carpet vacuuming and console, cup holders, doors, vents and instruments details.

 

HAMILTON, Bermuda

David and Tracy Salawu decided to launch a carwash after returning to Bermuda, following 20 years of overseas missionary work and not finding jobs, according to The Royal Gazette. The couple first tested the jet carwash concept near their mission base in Nigeria.

After the Nigeria carwash became a success in the community, the Salawus turned their attention toward the Bermuda location, which took around six months to construct.

Budget-Jet Car Wash & Valet Services held its grand opening late this summer, and the response has been encouraging.

Customers have offered the new owners positive feedback, including a truck driver whose vehicle couldn’t fit in the automated carwashes in the area.

The jet-powered carwash is solely hand operated to “give greater attention to detail” and is the first of its kind on the island.

The business is a touchless carwash using jet-wash appliances, vacuums and blowers.

“We are proud of our service, and we use 100 percent biodegradable and environmentally-friendly products,” said Tracy.

 

CHICAGO

The Boyd Group announced the opening of a Gerber Collision & Glass repair center in Jacksonville, North Carolina, according to a press release.

The opening follows the recent acquisition of the center, which previously operated as Moore Collision Center.

The center is located on a major thoroughfare in the city and is co-located with the Moore Buick GMC dealership.

“Jacksonville has been recognized as one of the fastest growing small cities in the United States and is also home to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune,” stated O’Day. “We look forward to growing with the community and providing the Gerber brand of professional and friendly service that we are known for.”

 

STROUDSBURG, Pa.

Shinetime Auto Wash and Detail Center in East Stroudsburg features a logo with a pair of red brushes “frothing with white soap as they scrub blue letters outlined in yellow,” according to the Pocono Record.

The colors and the logo are used throughout the carwash, which help give it the appearance of being a franchise or a chain. And, although the business is privately owned, the branding “was the result of careful planning.”

Ben Principe, owner of Shinetime Auto Wash as well as the Simplex Image Solutions (a sign maker in the city), took over the wash, formally Dynamite Auto Wash, last March.

With the immense presence of signage, logos and banners at the carwash, Principe is implementing the best practices he teaches his customers of Simplex Image Solutions. And, the business may be “the first link of a chain.”

“We’ll use it as our test lab,” said Principe. “We’re going to see how we do here.”

Depending on the weather, the automatic wash is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and three vacuums as well as two self-serve wash bays are open 24/7.

The wash also includes vending machines filled with cleaning supplies and a detail bay.

 

FRANKLIN, Tenn.

MILES Auto Spa announced it is expanding its auto care business with “MILES Express,” a new fast care concept opening in an additional location in Cools Springs, according to a press release.

Opening this fall, MILES Express will be located on Mallory Station Road at the former AutoWash Express and will provide advanced carwash services, on-site sales and available hand drying and touch ups, unlike typical express models.

The existing building will undergo renovations while new, state-of-the-art equipment is installed. The site will also feature the new logo and signage.

MILES Express is expected to open in November and MILES Auto Spa encourages all AutoWash Express customers to visit its location on Backers Bridge Avenue “to experience the services expected to be offered at both locations.”

MILES Auto Spa was established in 2007 by Miles Johnson, a telecommunications industry veteran who later partnered with fellow telecom executive Rocky Crossland, noted the release, and the partners have since built a “luxury carwash business focusing on reliable service and unmet consumer needs.”

The carwash has experienced double-digit growth each year and continues to look for expansion opportunities throughout Tennessee as well as in other markets.

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Get Spiffy Inc. announced it is expanding into Charlotte, according to a press release. The company is an RTP-headquartered (Research Triangle Park) developer of the Spiffy app and the operator of the Spiffy Mobile Car Wash and Detailing service.

“We began our expansion into Charlotte in May with the hiring and training of a world-class team of technicians and managers,” said CEO Karl Murphy. Simultaneously we began developing partnerships with leading businesses in the market to offer Spiffy to their employees as a zero-cost employee benefit.”

Customers can now use the Spiffy app to schedule, track and pay for their services within the Greater Charlotte area.

“Expanding to an ‘NFL’ city from our home in Raleigh is a key milestone in the growth of our business and shows that our management team has developed the systems and procedures needed to grow while continuing to deliver a superior customer experience,” stated Scot Wingo, executive chairman.

Spiffy was founded by carwash owner Karl Murphy and backed by Wingo.

 

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