Baby born in PureMagic Car Wash parking lot in North Knoxville
A couple rushing to the hospital pulled into the closed car wash on Old Broadway, where the father delivered the newborn before paramedics arrived.
By The Car Wash News Staff
3 min read
A PureMagic Car Wash location in North Knoxville became the site of an unplanned delivery in the early hours of July 20, when a baby girl was born in the parking lot before emergency responders arrived, according to reporting from the International Carwash Association.
Sarah and Ivan Powers were driving to the hospital when Sarah's labor advanced too quickly to continue, prompting the couple to pull into the PureMagic site on Old Broadway. After calling 911, Ivan delivered their daughter, Laiklynn, in the vehicle at roughly 1:50 a.m. Both mother and baby were later taken to the hospital and reported healthy. The father has nicknamed the newborn "Bubbles" in a nod to her birthplace.
A closed site that still served the community
The car wash was not open at the time, but the location gave the family a safe, well-lit place to stop during the emergency. PureMagic Car Wash is operated by MOJO Family of Brands, described as a multi-brand car wash platform running 20 brands nationwide.
Kevin McBride, Director of Operations for MOJO Family of Brands in Knoxville, said the team was not onsite but was grateful the location could help. "We're thrilled to hear that both mom and baby are doing well," McBride said, extending congratulations to the Powers family.
Harry T. Jenkins, Chief Operating Officer for MOJO Family of Brands, framed the event around the company's local presence. "Every one of our locations is part of the communities we serve," Jenkins said, adding that the company was honored to become part of the family's story. The account has spread across East Tennessee.
Why it matters for operators
This is a feel-good story, not a business development, but it carries a practical reminder for operators. A car wash property functions as a piece of public infrastructure even when the tunnel is closed. Its lighting, visible signage, and off-street parking make it a natural place for drivers to pull over in an emergency, whether that is a medical event, a breakdown, or a driver simply needing a safe spot.
That visibility cuts both ways. Well-lit, well-maintained lots reflect positively on a brand and can generate goodwill and earned media, as this incident did for PureMagic and MOJO. Poorly lit or neglected sites invite the opposite: loitering, dumping, and liability concerns. Operators who treat exterior lighting, camera coverage, and lot upkeep as brand assets rather than afterthoughts protect both their reputation and their customers.
The episode also shows how a large multi-brand platform can respond to a hyperlocal moment. MOJO's leadership issued warm, human statements that reinforced its community message without overreaching or claiming credit for the delivery itself. For operators, the lesson in messaging is simple: when your property becomes part of an unexpected story, respond quickly, keep the focus on the people involved, and let genuine goodwill do the work. A short, sincere statement congratulating the family did more for the brand than any paid campaign could.
