Are they building standalone car washes like crazy in your area too?

[Brian Elfert]

They are going crazy building standalone car washes in my area. I know of at least three currently under construction nearby, and a few others that recently opened. Car washes are going up all over the Minneapolis metro area. There will easily be three times as many standalone car washes once they are all open. Heck, there is a car wash that had long been open and a competitor built a new car wash a block or two down the road. Previously, most car washes were part of gas stations. I would guess at least 50% of gas stations have a car wash. Fleet Farm stores have a gas station and a four lane car wash at most locations.

Are they building a bunch of standalone car washes in your area too? I usually use the car wash at Fleet Farm because they have four lanes. The only issue is typically at least one lane is closed, and I have seen three of the four lanes closed. This is after they had the car wash equipment totally replaced about two years ago. It broke down all the time before replacement, and it breaks down after replacement. They have two touchless lanes and two lanes with foam brushes. I only use the touchless lanes and sometimes only one touchless lane is open with a long line and no line for the brush lanes.

[Ron Selzer]

Moo-Moo Car Wash came on heavy ten years? ago in Central Ohio. Car washes at gas stations were never plenty and now I can't think of one that is open.
Ron

[Bruce Page]

There were very few car wash/gas stations around here. As far as I know they all closed down years ago. They have been building semi do it yourself “ride through the tunnel” washes left & right.

[Bill Dufour]

Lots here. But, we have water restrictions so washing a car at home is more restricted as to what days and times are allowed.
BilL D

[Brian Elfert]

There were very few car wash/gas stations around here. As far as I know they all closed down years ago. They have been building semi do it yourself “ride through the tunnel” washes left & right.

The tunnel type car washes are what they are building all over here. I find it hard to believe that the demand for car washes has doubled in recent years with car washes being built all over. The salt in the winter is the reason at least 50% of gas stations have a car wash.

I probably don't get my car washed as often as I should in the winter to get rid of the salt. Any time the temperatures are warm enough so car doors won't freeze shut there are huge lines at every car wash. My tolerance for lines is pretty limited. I won't wait in line for 30 to 60 minutes for a car wash.

[Ralph Okonieski]

There have been a number of new car washes built in my area in the last year or so. Seems to be the thing to do around here.

[William Lessenberry]

Remember Breaking Bad? Walter needs a way to launder the drug money and buys a car wash. Hmmm
Car washes and self-storage units are all the rage here in central Arkansas. Six acres that abuts the west side of my property sold for $859,000 and storage units are going to be built on it. This area was unimproved woodlands, now it's a flattened out, barren plain of dirt, getting ready for concrete. We may have to move after 45 years.
BillL

[Jim Koepke]

Remember Breaking Bad? Walter needs a way to launder the drug money and buys a car wash. Hmmm

Money laundering was my first thought. We had a self serve car wash that closed here a few years ago. Not sure if the one across town is still in business.

When it rains as much as it does around here, a car wash seems pointless.

jtk

[Ole Anderson]

And the newer car washes seem to have an over abundance of self serve vacuum stations. Our newest one has something like 15. Never seen more than two being used at the same time.

[Jim Becker]

Yes, they are being built in increasing numbers and they are also selling monthly subscriptions. Because they recycle water, they are sometimes the only option in some areas that have water restrictions.

[Brian Elfert]

Here in Minnesota I have never seen a restriction against washing cars at home. We have enough water for that, so far. The issue with recycling water in car washes in the winter is the water turns into salt water. A big reason to wash your car in the winter is to remove the salt. It doesn't do much good to remove salt with salt water.

[Larry Edgerton]

Money laundering was my first thought. We had a self serve car wash that closed here a few years ago. Not sure if the one across town is still in business.


jtk

This makes sense. Cash business. Years ago they built a huge low budget hotel here in the most out of the loop place. Never saw any cars there to speak of. It was owned by a group from Jersey. "Ya, we were filled to capacity every night!"

[Rob Luter]

We have a wealth of car washes in my neck of the woods. They do a brisk business washing off road salt in the winter and bug DNA in the summer. One major chain has built or upgraded several locations in the last few years.

[Ron Selzer]

I keep the two nicest vehicles on monthly plan at Moo Moo car wash primarily for the underbody, secondary for the looks. The vacuums at the one in Lancaster are always in use, just not a lot of people use them. Went thru one in Columbus in yuppieville area, somewhat close to OSU, and Downtown. Lot of older buildings torn down and replace by 3-6 story apartments, etc. last 5 years. The vacuums were over 65% in use not so the car wash. Vacuums are free to use.
Ron

[Dan Friedrichs]

A great Freakonomics podcast covered this, recently: https://freakonomics.com/podcast/car-washes/

Summary: business model changes (monthly subscriptions), increased demand, better tech, and institutional investors.