Splash Car Wash, a leader in the car wash industry, has announced their addition of new sites as they continue to expand and grow across Connecticut and New York. These additions, while helping the business grow, are also a reflection of the local economies they service.
Recently, Splash Car Wash opened in Southbury, Connecticut with a full service hand wash, oil change, and Five Star Detail Center. This was the Splash’s 17th location opened. As a Hand Wash, Southbury combines the benefit of a 100% lammswool mitt hand wash with the speed of a conveyorized operation. With the use of special Simoniz soaps and a trained crew, Splash Southbury has cleaning down to a science and can complete a wash with vacuum and windows usually in about 12 to 15 minutes.
The 18th location was completed in Cromwell, CT, as a Splash Express Exterior Wash with bays for self-serve as well as in-bay automatic washing. The Express Exterior Wash has the latest carwash technologies designed to wash cars quickly and thoroughly while providing the customers a great show as they ride through the tunnel. “Beginning with the ‘Foaminator’ – a device that coats the car with a thick blanket of Simoniz soap - and ending with a new ‘dry & shine’ machine at the end, cars come out sparkling in no time”, said Dan Petrelle, Chief Operating Officer and co-owner of Splash. Additionally, carwash customers are provided free self-service vacuums to use after their wash.
The 19th Splash center is expected to be opening this month in Stratford, CT, and will include an Express Exterior Wash with an oil change. Again, customers will have free vacuums to use along with their carwash. This, along with previous locations, gives Splash a total of 19 different service centers across Connecticut and New York with 21 wash tunnels, 19 detail centers, and 7 oil change centers.
This expansion is reflective of the improving economy in the localities Splash serves. “Splash will continue to add locations in markets that have the right location and demographics that fit our model. We feel strong about the economic future of Connecticut and New York”, added Petrelle.
Meanwhile, Splash has begun construction on the latest location to be built in the Bedford Hills region of New York. This will be a $4-million facility with a full service hand wash, an Express Exterior wash, and a detailing center. This new site is expected to be finished sometime late in May.
In addition to the new locations, Splash has also begun to reinvest in their existing sites, earmarking close to $2,000,000 in equipment and aesthetic improvements. The Express Exterior stores will be retrofitted with new pieces of equipment, including the “Foaminator”, and will add free self-serve vacuums where possible. Some of the locations have already been renovated, including Cheshire and West Haven, with Greenwich, New Haven, and Norwalk now underway. The goal is to have all sites continue to operate during the planned improvements with a minimum of service disruption.
“We’re excited to make these improvements and to add these new sites,” stated Chris Fisher, co-owner of Splash. “It almost feels like we’re starting up even though we’ve been in the business for 34 years.” Fisher and co-owner, Mark Curtis, started the business with the acquisition of an existing carwash in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1981. Their second location in Bedford Hills, New York wasn’t added until 14 years later.
