The New York State Car Wash Association (NYSCWA) headed to Westchester County on Wednesday, June 11, to tour three southern New York state sites during its Annual Spring Car Wash Tour & Meeting.
The day’s weather was picture perfect, according to NYSCWA Vice President Chris Kubarek, who led the tour. “I am always reminded during events like this that this industry is exceptionally open and willing to share with each other. Spending time on the bus, and at these great locations, and learning and sharing is what makes this industry unique,” said Kubarek. “You just don’t find this in other industries. And, it didn’t rain!”
The event included two pickup sites to best accommodate the expansive demographics of the state. The chartered bus, sponsored by Micrologic and Simoniz USA, started in the Albany market and then headed southeast to collect the remainder of attendees who jumped on the bus in Bedford Hills. After a quick trip down the road, the group toured a unique Splash full-serve that featured a lube, detailing, and double tunnel. The double tunnel includes a full-service hand wash and an express exterior tunnel. Customers can vacuum at one of 14 free vacs at the oil & lube service center adjacent to the wash. The site’s conveyor is 110 feet long, and the expansive facility sits on a 1.61-acre lot.
Before boarding the bus to head to the second site, sandwiches, chips, and cookies sponsored by Vacutech and beverages sponsored by Petit Auto Wash Equipment were available to eat en route the the next wash. Jose Cruz, a Splash manager, was the tour’s guide. He also provided attendees with a goodie bag of additional treats.
About 40 minutes down the road in White Plains, a half hour outside New York City, the group then toured a rehabbed former Splash that is now a WashCo express site. This wash was once a full serve. The site reopened in 2020 and has characteristics from the first WashCo in Middletown, N.Y. It features automated gates at the kiosks for quick and convenient sales, a robust Unlimited Wash Club, and 20 self-serve free vacs on a high-traffic intersection.
The final wash on the tour, ten minutes from the WashCo site, proved that you can pack a lot into a small half-acre site. The Splash on Central Avenue, also in White Plains, was built in 2019 in the center of town. It demonstrated that full service is not dead, as a continuous stream of customers frequented the wash during the tour stop. The site also includes five-star detailing and express options to meet customer needs while you wait.
The washes on the tour featured equipment from MacNeil, Econocraft, Motor City, Vacutech and Petit; Sonny’s chemical and Micrologic/ICS controls.
