Car wash the latest East Lincolnway business project

STERLING – Construction could begin as soon as Wednesday on a new business in the East Lincolnway business district.

Four Seasons Power Wash, a high-tech tunnel car wash, will go up on the lot adjacent to Aldi at 3409 E. Lincolnway.

Williams & Jepsen Management LLC will close on the property today. The management group, which is Chris Williams of Naperville and Kevin Yepsen of Galva, is based in Galva.

The investors are a group of business leaders from several central Illinois towns.

“All of us are from small towns, and we wanted to stay away from the Chicago market,” said Williams, who originally is from Kewanee. “We want to be actively involved in our communities, and it’s easier to take that approach in small towns.”

Four Seasons plans to engage residents through its website when it’s up, and fundraisers for community groups will be held on a regular basis.

The car wash technology is proprietary – they started designing the 100-foot tunnel in January.

“The is the absolute latest available equipment in the industry,” Williams said. “It’s stainless steel, completely automatic, and it’s run by a conveyor belt system.”

That means no more getting the tires perfectly lined up when you enter the car wash. There is just one tunnel, but up to 100 cars can be washed in an hour. Because the building is completely enclosed, it’s open year round.

Phalen Steel Construction Co. in Mendota is the general contractor. Quad City Bank & Trust is financing the project.

Mike Judge of Princeton will oversee the day-to-day operations. Judge has been in the business for about 20 years and manages several car washes in central Illinois and Iowa.

Williams said a couple of workers always will be on duty. Four Seasons will be looking to hire 10 to 15 people.

The Sterling car wash is a special project for the management group.

“Kevin and I have been involved in investor groups, but this the first one we have built ourselves,” Williams said.

A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for July 27, but a time has yet to be determined.

Williams said they hope to be open for business sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

The management group has several other car wash sites on its radar. It has submitted letters of intent to buy property in Plano and Sandwich. They also have their eyes on property in Freeport and Macomb, and in Clinton and Dubuque in Iowa.

PROJECT TIMELINE

Close on property – July 20

Construction – Tentatively begins July 25

Groundbreaking ceremony – July 27

Opening – Sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving