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Wednesday, March 16, 2011 B 1
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Irish entree
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Two firefighters from
Poudre Fire Authority looking
for a new investment will
break ground in May on a new
car wash in south Fort Collins.
But they're not leaving the
firehouse behind.
Firefighters James Houck
and Doug Lee, along with
Jason Luy, framing contrac-
tor and silent partner, are
bringing the firehouse with
them.
Firehouse X-press Carwash
is designed to look like a fire
station, complete with red
New business expected to open in September
brick tower.
It will be located on
Timberline Road between Fort
Collins High School and
McDonald's.
"All three of us have a back-
ground in owning small busi-
nesses," Houck said. "And, all
three of us were looking for a
small business ... something
to invest in."
The trio saw a need for a car
wash in south Fort Collins and
went in search of a site on
which to put it.
'rhe hardest thing was
finding a spot," said Eric
Nichols of Sullivanflayes, the
Realtor who worked with
Houck's team for the better
part of last year.
Car washes, considered
minor vehicle repair establish-
ments for zoning purposes, are
restricted primarily to com-
mercial and industrial zones,
said zoning inspector Gary
Lopez.
The city gave its final OK
for the car wash on Monday,
Nichols said, clearing the way
for construction to begin in
May with projected opening in
September.
The 30-by-115-foot-long
tunnel car wash will have an
automated pay station and 14
free vacuum stations and will
recycle 60 percent to 70 per-
cent of water used to wash
vehicles, Houck said.
According to industry stan-
dards, it takes about 30 gal-
lons of water to get a car
through the car wash and
COULD TECHNOLOGY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE?
New York
Police
between 80 to 100 gallons to
wash your car yourself at
home, Houck said.
The car wash will use about
12 gallons of fresh water com-
bined with recycled water, he
said.
The partnership secured
financing through a Small
Business Administration loan
and will hire a business man-
ager to handle the day -today
operations.
Other duties will be divided
among Houck, Loy and Lee.
"We're hoping to provide the
best car wash in town," Houck
said.
Boot Barn
coming to