In this Market Focus, we cover an acquisition, anniversaries and an award.

Mister Car Wash acquires Standale Auto Wash in Grand Rapids

TUCSON, Ariz. — Mister Car Wash announced its acquisition of Standale Auto Wash, a single express location in Grand Rapids, Michigan, according to a press release.

“The addition of this location is a nice complement to the other stores we’ve added in Grand Rapids this year, and we are glad to welcome the Standale team to the Mister Car Wash family,” said Tim Vaughn, division manager for Mister Car Wash.

With this latest acquisition, Mister Car Wash now operates 236 car washes in 21 states, including 12 locations in the greater Grand Rapids area, the release concluded. 

The Car Wash on Hamlin Hwy. celebrates second anniversary

LAKE ARIEL, Pa. — On Aug. 26th, The Car Wash on Hamilin Hwy. will celebrate its second anniversary, according to a press release.

To celebrate, the company will be offering free carwashes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in all bays, and Owner Dave Edwards will be behind a BBQ grill serving up free hamburgers and hot dogs with cold sodas, the release continued.

“We are so proud of our business and the improvements and successes we’ve been blessed with during the past two years. None of this would have been possible without the support and time each of [our patrons] has put forth to get us here,” Edwards said.

The Car Wash on Hamlin Hwy. opened on Aug. 21, 2015 after purchasing and renovating an old self service carwash; in December 2016, the company also added a dog wash to the site.

Bixby Knolls Hand Car Wash and Detail Center to celebrate 40 years in business

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Bixby Knolls Hand Car Wash and Detail Center, one of the largest carwash and detail centers in the greater Los Angeles area and located at 577 E. Wardlow Rd. in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, will host a free “40 years in business” celebration on Friday, Sept. 22nd at 4 p.m., according to a press release.

Open to the public, the festivities will include music and entertainment, food from local vendors, clowns, giveaways, games, prizes and free photo-booth style pictures, the release continued.

Over the past 40 years, the Grossmans have added the latest technology to their carwash establishment and currently feature water-saving and green elements in their full-serve as well as in the coin-operated self-service portions of their business, the release noted.

As dedicated members of the WaterSavers® program, they are proud of their commitment to recycle as much water as possible during their carwashing operations, the release added; at the Bixby Knolls Hand Car Wash and Detail Center, the cleaning agents and spray waxes are environmentally friendly and the Grossmans have replaced all air dryers with high-efficiency systems to cut electricity usage.

Known for their friendly business ways, the Grossmans are not only popular with their clients, but they are also well thought of by their employees, some who have been on board over 30 years, the release stated.

For more information, call (562) 595-6666 or visit www.bixbyknollscarwash.com.

Hercules Corporation wins Red Carpet Service® Award from Maytag® Commercial Laundry

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Maytag® Commercial Laundry recently honored Hercules Corporation, based in Hicksville, New York, with the Red Carpet Service® Award at the brand’s 58th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, according to a press release.

The tribute acknowledges excellence in service and dependability as characterized by the Maytag® Commercial Laundry brand, the release continued.

“Hercules Corporation instills a culture in which remarkable service is expected, so rolling out the ‘red carpet’ for its customers is just part of everyday business operation,” said Trey Northrup, general manager of Maytag® Commercial Laundry. “We applaud Hercules for always maintaining a professional image when representing the Maytag® Commercial Laundry brand.”

Established by Fred Maytag II, the Red Carpet Service® Award was created to highlight customers who could excel under the stringent criteria of service response time, customer comments, loyalty and service etiquette, and demonstrate commitment to the company by continually engaging in Red Carpet Service® training courses, the release noted; the award symbolizes the honor that is concurrent with the roll out of a red carpet.

“Our company is founded on providing outstanding service because we understand the importance of the customer connection. And with support from Maytag® Commercial Laundry, we’re able to apply that philosophy when creating excellent laundry room experiences for our customers,” said Andrew May, president and CEO of Hercules.

Hercules Corporation is a three-time winner of the Red Carpet Service® and Multi-Housing Excellence Awards and is a recipient of the Maytag® Commercial Laundry Energy Advantage™ Award, the release added.

Adam May, Steve Beckerman, Paul Finkelstein and Andy Tegan were present to accept the award, the release concluded.

For more information about Hercules, visit hercnet.com or call (800) 526-5760.

PNC Riverarch Capital invests in TSS Inc.

PITTSBURGH — PNC Riverarch Capital announced the successful investment in TSS Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of specialty signage, fixtures, and light equipment for the carwash industry, according to a press release.

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with PNC Riverarch Capital,” said Ismael Basha, CEO of TSS. “Throughout our history, TSS’s success has been driven by our close partnerships with our customers, with whom we have collaborated to create many of the products and solutions that have driven our growth. We believe PNC’s extensive experience and resources will be of immense value to us as we invest to expand our capabilities, so that we can be even better partners to our exceptional customers. We remain dedicated to providing the highest quality products in the industry and are exceptionally excited to move onto our next stage of growth.”

The transaction for PNC Riverarch Capital was led by Michael Hand, managing director; Andrew Barza, director; Ian Garland, senior associate; and John Yang, associate, the release continued; PNC Riverarch Capital will be represented on the Board of Directors by Hand, Barza, and Garland.

“TSS is the clear leader in the industry and provides an outstanding value proposition for its customers,” said Hand. “We are excited to partner with such a talented and passionate management team. Our plan is to support TSS as they accelerate their growth by helping to fund investments in a new facility, additional management talent, and improved systems.”

“The company’s market leadership position, dedication to its customer base and industry-leading product set made TSS an extremely attractive opportunity for us, and we are excited to be supporting TSS in this next stage of growth” said Barza.

PNC Riverarch Capital is a middle-market private equity firm which invests in privately held companies headquartered in North America, the release added; the firm seeks well-positioned companies where it invests $10 million to $50 million of capital in support of leveraged and management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and growth financings.

Founded in the early 1990s and headquartered in Warren, Michigan, TSS is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive provider of signage and functional fixtures to the carwash industry, the article concluded.