Sparkle City

Does anyone know the status of Sparkle City Car Wash?  For several years, this “touchless” option has operated at 2425 Erie Boulevard in Syracuse.  Today I arrived to have my car washed and it was closed at 3:30 pm.

The overhead door which closed the drive through bay was rusted.  There were handwritten signs stating exact change was required for the self-service bays.  Most foreboding was a soft-drink supplier emptying the machine out front.  I asked if the place shut down and the man said he didn’t know but he was pulling all the remaining soda and bottled water from the machine for lack of activity.

A reliable online commercial real estate website lists the property for sale at $495,000.  I suppose the loss of this convenient car wash option wouldn’t be so bad, but I have a full book of vouchers that I bought in advance last spring for about $60.00, and I can’t be the only one who trusted in the future of this facility.

There’s a second location at Western Lights Shopping Center, but neither location answered phone calls today.  I’ll think twice before buying vouchers again.  Does anyone have a similar experience?

Update:  I received a voicemail from a man named Doug who says the car wash continues even though the Erie Boulevard operation is for sale.  He says the east side location closed early the day I drove in because of cloudy weather.  Glad to know you’re still in business, guys!  I’ll be back.