EWC adds Pittsburgh site, pushing its network to 149 washes

Express Wash Concepts has acquired and reopened a former Mach-1 Express Wash site in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, growing its multi-brand portfolio to 149 express locations across six states, according to reporting from Auto Laundry News. The deal includes 61 sites operating under the company's Clean Express Auto Wash banner.

The newly acquired wash becomes Clean Express' 14th operating location in the greater Pittsburgh market, a region where EWC says it plans to open six more sites before the end of 2026.

Building density in Pittsburgh

The acquisition reflects a clustering strategy aimed at making the Clean Express brand a routine stop for local drivers. John Roush, founder and CEO of Express Wash Concepts, described the Pittsburgh vision as making the brand "a convenient part of our customers' everyday routines." The company framed the continued buildout around proximity and consistency, positioning washes close enough that members do not have to go out of their way.

Clean Express operates 61 locations spanning Greater Cleveland, Detroit, Flint, Pittsburgh, and Toledo. Across those markets, the brand offers unlimited membership plans and fast express service.

One membership across brands

A central piece of EWC's growth model is its Wash Smart Unlimited Club, which lets members wash at any location within the company's family of car wash brands using a single membership. That interoperability gives customers access to the full network rather than a single site, and it ties the company's regional acquisitions into one recurring revenue program.

The Mach-1 purchase is a conversion play rather than new construction. By acquiring an existing wash and reopening it under the Clean Express name, EWC adds capacity in an established trade area without the longer timeline that ground-up development requires.

Why it matters for operators

EWC's Pittsburgh push is a clear example of how larger operators are using acquisitions of existing single sites and small chains to build market density quickly. Converting a former competitor's location, such as the Mach-1 site, lets a buyer skip permitting and construction delays and start generating membership revenue sooner. Independent operators in markets where EWC and similar groups are active should expect this kind of clustering to continue, as density lowers marketing costs per site and strengthens the convenience pitch to subscribers.

The single-membership model deserves particular attention. When a member can wash at any location in a network, switching costs rise and the value proposition improves with every new site. For independents competing against a multi-brand operator, matching that convenience is difficult without scale, so the practical response is often to compete on service quality, local relationships, and retention of existing members.

Operators considering a sale should also note the appetite for conversion-ready sites. A well-located wash with existing infrastructure can be an attractive acquisition target for a buyer looking to enter or deepen its presence in a market, which may support valuations for sellers in contested regions.