WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – With its rapidly growing population, Woodbury is seeing growth in car wash facilities too. A new car wash, Bubbles n Vacs, is joining two others that offer services beyond a drive-through wash.
A longtime favorite of many Woodbury residents, Woodbury Car Wash (WCW), previously Heppner’s Car Wash, is tucked away on Hudson Road but visible from I-94 just before the Radio Drive exit. Their specialty detailing center is always in demand.
“In 2020, we installed a new car washing system and a new conveyor system was installed a month ago,” says manager, Chuck Labrasseur. The new car wash means fewer breakdowns and makes for a better experience.
WCW is a full-service experience; you pull in and choose your preferred level of washing: An Exterior Wash – a comprehensive wash that removes dirt, grime, and dust, leaving your vehicle looking fresh and spotless. Three levels are offered with prices ranging from $15 to $33. WCW offers a 15 percent discount to seniors and AAA card holders. A 50 percent discount is offered on the full-service, royal-tier wash in the first and last hour each day.
WCW prides itself on its experienced staff to provide top notch customer service. “All our employees have been with us for at least five years. They are adults with bills to pay. So they stay,” Labrasseur said. “Compared to the competition our prices and service are much better.”
He admits that WCW is a little off the beaten path but he says they have a lot of regulars. “Once they find us, they don’t leave us.”
Depending on the weather, WCW’s clientele ranges from 49 cars washed in a day to 110 but has spiked as high as 276. “After a month of snow and slush, if there is a streak of sunny, not extremely cold weather, then we know we will see a lot of customers. On such busy days, we just cope with it,” Labrasseur said. Early spring is when detailing the car, which is a real deep cleaning inside and out, is more popular.
Paradise Car Wash and Detail Center
Paradise Car Wash and Detail Center has eight full-service locations including Woodbury. We reached out to the company, but were unable to speak with a representative. According to its website, it offers exterior wash packages and full-service packages that include cleaning inside vehicles. Prices range from $15.99 to $42.99 for a wash while monthly subscription packages are available.
The City of Woodbury has very stringent rules for car washes. They must discharge used water into approved sanitary sewers versus curb and driveway washing where that wastewater flows, untreated, into our rivers, lakes, and streams, which can cause environmental contamination.
Bubbles n Vacs
One condition for the new kid on the block, Bubbles n Vacs, was that at least 70 percent of the water used in the car wash should be recycled and reused on site.
The snazzy car wash is opening next to Walmart on Hudson Road on July 18, offering free washes through July 27. “We have more lights and sounds than an amusement park,” Steve Stephenson, the owner, said. “I have 18 different kinds of soaps, depending on the package you choose and soft cloth like brushes to clean your car.’
The car wash has big signs proclaiming free vacuums. Once the car is washed, you pull it into one of over 20 spots where the car owner can vacuum the car, wipe windows, slot individual mats into a “clipboard” like holder and vacuum them individually. If you have older kids, they can help vacuum. Vacuum, wipes, window cleaner, trash cans are all provided at each cleaning station, so no long wait times are anticipated for you and your car.
Bubbles and Vacs also offers monthly options. “You can wash your car daily for one monthly fee. We are focused on building membership at a great price,” Stephenson said.
