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Anyone here ever used, or otherwise familiar with the Earth First Car Wash in Conifer, CO? It is apparently the only carwash in Conifer. It is just off of 285, North of Conifer proper, just North of the Conoco/Napa Auto parts, on the East side of 285.
I am looking for general information about the place, it's reputation, how busy it is, if everyone hates that place, etc. Please let me know.
I live in Bailey, wife works in Aspen Park. Just an FYI there is no Napa in Conifer anymore, hasn't been one there for years. There is however a CarQuest/Conoco right there though and of course the car wash is just across from it as you've stated. Your directions are fairly accurate in that regard. Its also attached to a quick lube place that you couldn't pay enough me to visit as I like my vehicles and prefer to keep them in great running condition. Its a self serve car wash. Put your card or quarters in the wall unit, select your setting, spray with the wand sort of thing. Haven't really used that in some years either as I have access to a pressure washer should the need arise. Rain does a good enough job when it comes around though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
As far as reputation, like I said the quick lube attached to it doesn't have a good one, but the car wash itself seems to get fair traffic I'd say.
Hope this helps,
Badger
Business opportunity?
I don't use it since there's one in Bailey. It's not exactly true that there's no other in Conifer. The Safeway about a mile away has a drive-thru car wash at their gas station if that counts. The next nearest car wash is in Evergreen near the Library or Bailey. Or down the hill.
It usually seems pretty busy whenever I drive by. They may have a contract with JeffCo SO...seems I heard that, but if so, I'm not sure how much that would amount to.
The earth first car wash has some issues if you are thinking of buying it. It is for sale, Let me know if you need a buyers broker to help you :) shameless plug.
They do not have commercial water, they have to truck their water in and recycle it until they get a new load. I am not sure what they are doing for waste issues as with any mountain property they would be on septic. The recycled water smells and is not as good a finished product as other car washes. That being said the new owner has made improvements and it usual works as designed.
As for 285 lube and oil it is also under new management and the owner is on site everyday. They are not my first choice to have an oil change done but since Troy is no longer there they have given good service and have not given me any reason to believe they have not done a competent job with an oil change.
Yes, business opportunity. I do know that you have to have the water trucked in. They do recycle the water.
Thank you guys so much for telling me about it, I really appreciate it!
I'm also interested to hear if it is one of the newer styles where everything is fancy, but it takes 30 seconds just to change between modes and wastes all your time and quarters, or if it is an older one that is cheap and just works, along with quick mode changes.
It's an older setup, water stinks, low pressure and not much soap. With that said I use it in the winter out of necessity to blow the salt off of my trucks. The place needs a new owner for sure, hope you buy it and fix it up.
Another thing to consider, despite the negatives. That car wash has been in business since I moved up here in 1990. It obviously gets enough business to stay in business.
It opened in 1989 and the current owner has owned it for the last 8 years.
Longbow, that's exactly the information I'm looking for. Thank you.
Go for it Irving, close the end bay off and on friday and sat nights have private club, poker, ladies pole dancing, yeah...
I would agree with what longbow had to say about the car wash. I use it when I have to, but don't feel like it is a very good value. I would use the heck out of it if someone were to buy it and fix it up a bit... say somewhat comparable to the "down the hill" car washes.
I spent $79.54 on car washes last year, not counting times when I pay cash. Only about 11 dollars of that was spent at Earth First even though it is the most convenient car wash for me.
Not sure if these will help...
http://forum.autocareforum.com/
http://talkcarwash.com/forums
Have you seen any financials? Growth? How much/often does water have to be trucked in?
All the newer filtering requirements took a bite out of the profitability. You will have to be able to fix everything as repair calls will eat you alive.
Hopefully the due diligence documents would be available prior to making an offer. The property has had two owners since i moved to Bailey. It was closed for a long time it seemed between owners. They are advertising a 100K per year gross revenue. BFD 100K gross does not mean a whole lot, what is your cash flow sir? If you had a going business you would advertise cash flow not gross receipts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ah Pook
I can gross a 100k all day long, but when you couple that with 95K in expenses your basically have a hobby.
The other thing that bother me about this sale is the that you do not own the building, just the equipment. What is the length of the lease? What are the terms for renewal? At what point will you and your equipment be told to hit the road? What are the concerns with the county over your waste disposal?
One thing You need to look into when buying a business that has waste is a at least a stage one if not a stage three soil contamination certification. You don't want to be buying someone else's superfund cleanup. This will cost you some coin for the testing.
I am going to say this again. Get yourself an agent, the agent selling the property is not your friend, he works for the seller.........
I would be leary of just buying the business/fixtures. Kind of like a laundry mat. You can't just pick up and move if the landlord decides to jack the lease/cam fees.
FYI: There is a 4-5 bay carwash in mid-Gilpn Co. It is 5-7 years old and has been shut down for at least a year. My understanding is that the govt. repoed it for not paying taxes.
Environmental concerns follow the owner of the land, which is why I suspect they are okay leasing it.
Correct me if i am wrong but i am pretty sure recycling the water is normal even in the city. I would guess being able to top off the tank daily would help with the smell of the water though.Quote:
Originally Posted by rockhound
if your filters are good there shouldnt be any smell.....our car wash out here in the springs smells fineQuote:
Originally Posted by Rabid
Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Sorry, your lease will definitely make you responsible for anything that your business does to the owner's property.
I don't really think we are going to pursue this one. Seems like a lot of work to maintain in an area of business/skills I know little about. I want to be able to quit working and just invest in stuff, but not for only $50,000 a year at this carwash. There is a revenue agreememt with the Conoco across the street in case anyone else is interested.
If I would have known, my buddy just sold his.... His is next to the Rockies Auto on Federal and sold for REAL REAL great deal including 15 acres of land right off Federal Blvd. I was so tempted to grab that one --Plus the upside on the property value w/ zoning and possibly buyout by RTD for the light rail.
FWIW...I think that's a good call.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Thanks Bailey. We also just Got That apartment in Aurora. No need to run back and forth that far apart. Aurora is already a pain in the ass enough.