BlueWave Express opens 97th site with second Del Rio wash

BlueWave Express Car Wash has opened a second location in Del Rio, Texas, marking the 97th site across its combined BlueWave Express and ClearWater Express Wash network, according to reporting from Professional Carwashing & Detailing. The new wash sits at 904 E Gibbs St.

The opening gives Del Rio residents a second BlueWave option and continues a steady growth pattern for the company, which was founded in 2007 and now operates under two brand names tied into a single membership network.

Services and membership

The site offers an express tunnel wash plus complimentary amenities including vacuums, towel exchanges and windshield washer fluid refills. The key draw for frequent customers is network access: Unlimited Membership holders can wash at more than 100 locations spanning both the BlueWave Express and ClearWater Express brands. That cross-brand membership structure lets the company fold acquisitions and new builds into a single recurring-revenue program without fragmenting its customer base.

Grand opening events

BlueWave planned two community events to launch the location. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was set for Friday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m., staged alongside the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders. A broader grand opening celebration followed on Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 3 p.m., inviting residents to meet the team and tour the new wash. Both events took place at the new Gibbs Street address.

The company tied the opening to its broader community focus. BlueWave and ClearWater support local schools, nonprofits, community events and fundraising efforts in the markets they serve, and the Del Rio launch was framed as a reinvestment in a community where the brand already operates.

Why it matters for operators

BlueWave's approach to the second Del Rio site illustrates a common chain strategy: densifying within a market the brand already knows rather than chasing unfamiliar geography. A second location in the same town can capture spillover demand, shorten drive times for members, and spread marketing and labor efficiencies across nearby sites. The risk is cannibalization, so operators weighing a second local build should study whether existing volume and population support two tunnels before committing capital.

The cross-brand membership model is also worth noting. By letting Unlimited members wash at more than 100 sites under two names, BlueWave reduces friction when it acquires or builds under either banner. Operators running or acquiring multiple brands can preserve a unified subscription program instead of forcing members to choose, which protects retention during expansion.

Finally, the chamber ribbon-cutting and weekend community event remain a low-cost, high-visibility playbook for new-site launches. Pairing a formal business ceremony with a family-friendly open house signals local commitment and builds the goodwill that drives early membership sign-ups.