Timely Travel
Smitty’s Car Wash Debuts in Stone Oak
By Amy Morgan
We’ve all heard the adage cleanliness is next to godliness. And we’ve felt its truth. No matter whether it’s your home or your car, when things are clean, everything seems right with the world. There’s a reason fresh linen and new car are popular scents. Now there’s a new option in Stone Oak to help keep your vehicle spick and span. Lufkin-based Smitty’s Car Wash has opened its first location on the corner of Blanco and Heubner Roads, investing $7.5 million in the community.
President Ken Sampson saw how the North San Antonio area was developing and noticed it lacked a tunnel car wash. “We try to service underutilized areas,” he said. “Car washes are a steady need, and we thought we’d be a great fit.” It’s been a season of fast growth for Smitty’s Car Wash. The company has opened 15 locations since October 2022.
Not just another wash tunnel, Smitty’s takes an innovative approach to car care. “With state-of-the-art technology, customer driven services and community engagement, the company’s overarching goal is to deliver exceptional car wash services to the communities they serve with a hometown feel,” according to Matt Brunk, Director of Operations. The company’s motto is, “We’re small enough to know you and large enough to serve you.”
Their system employs several types of modernizations to enhance customer service and sustainability. The conveyor belt works like a moving sidewalk and is easier to operate than a traditional chain and roller.
The belt is user friendly and alleviates the risk of car damage. Smart LPR technology recognizes a vehicle’s license plate without a tag and seamlessly opens the entrance gate for those who purchase a monthly membership. No-contract memberships with unlimited washes start at just $29/month and can be used at any of Smitty’s Car Wash North American locations. Individual washes start at $12. All include high performance vacuums, compressed detail air, mat cleaners, window cleaner, and drying towels.
For those who are concerned about the environment and reducing water waste, always a need in draught-plagued San Antonio, Smitty’s Car Wash system reclaims the majority of the water used. Washing your personal car at home uses 100 gallons of water on average, Matt said. “We use less than half that because we recycle 60-80% of the water. If you are serious about water conservation, bringing your car through a Smitty’s tunnel will save a lot more water than washing it in your driveway.”
The Smitty’s Car Wash management team has
devoted time and energy creating online training
systems to develop their employees and enhance the customer experience.
“Most of the people we employ are young people managing people for the first time. We try to give them all the tools and skills they’ll need to succeed in any business they’ll choose,” Ken said.
“We know this is the first job for a lot of our employees,” he added. “We are flexible with their schedules and strive to be good mentors. We’ve had employees stay with Smitty’s when they relocate from Texas to Montana, and East Texas to Kerrville.” They even count a wedding in the Smitty’s family – between the managers of the Kerrville and Fredericksburg locations. “It means a lot that they started their family journey with us,” he said.
“We like to think of ourselves as a management company disguised as a car wash. Since we started, we’ve always been a community-first car wash. What sets us apart is our people – we treat our people right, so they’ll treat our customers right,” he continued. “Employees have to love their jobs to love their customers.
“Most importantly, we are committed to our community,” he added. Ken’s an avid sports fan who understands how Texans love their Friday Night Lights. Smitty’s Car Wash covers the cost of player dinners before football games in multiple communities where their tunnels are located. And in Lindale, a community outside Tyler, they even sponsor the varsity team’s radio broadcast. After each game, the host announces the Smitty’s Clean Drive of the Game, which highlights the most exciting offensive play.
Now that the Stone Oak location is open, Ken envisions Smitty’s Car Wash will soon be firmly established as a valued contributor to organizations locally. Smitty’s
makes fundraising easy. They provide a QR code for customers that sends contributions directly to the benefitting organization, which avoids the hassle of chasing down donations.
“We want to be your favorite car wash, and we want to know you when you come in. From customer focused automation to water saving solutions, the future of car washes is smarter, greener and more customer centered than ever,” Ken emphasized.
