Automatic car wash to open next year

By March, Maricopans could get their cars washed at a new Fast and Friendly Car Wash at the northwest corner of Hathaway Avenue and John Wayne Parkway.

The car wash will be owned and operated by 3D Development and Holdings, LLC, a private, family-owned business based in Peoria.

“We are expecting a tremendous response just from talking to people who live and work there,” Jeff Dadam, CEO of the company, said.

When scoping out the Valley for the next car wash location — the company has car washes in Surprise and Peoria — Dadam said Maricopa was the best location.

“We felt there was the biggest need in Maricopa,” he said. “We knew there were people there who wanted the speed offered by an automatic wash.”

“It’s hard to find a community of (Maricopa’s) size that doesn’t have a car wash,” Dadam said.

Jim Rives, president of the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance, said “the timing of the economy” is likely a contributing factor to why the city has not seen one in town yet.

“It’s going to be a big plus,” he said. “We’re always looking for businesses to come down and see the opportunities that exist here.”

The facility will be able to handle 1,500 cars a day and Dadam said he expected it to be used by 500 cars to 800 cars.

The car wash will offer speed and options including double wash, foam and rinse, tire shine, wax and more. Customers will be able to park at one of the extra-wide vacuum stalls and clean the interior of their cars for free.

“What people don’t always realize is that today, it is possible to get a car very clean and dry with machinery, as opposed to five years ago,” Dadam said.

Dadam, his father and two brothers started the business in 2004.

“My very first real job was a car wash,” he said. “And I saw the owner of the car wash, he owned three car washes, and he made a very good living for himself and his family.”

However, Dadam also saw that the “weather is challenging” for the business because when it’s raining, employees have to be sent home for the day.

When the technology became available to offer automated car washes, Dadam said, “The business became much more attractive to me and my father.”