Links Car Wash parent to buy Woodie's Wash Shack, forming 50-site Southeast chain

Back Nine Equity, LLC, the parent company of Links Car Wash, has agreed to acquire the Woodie's Wash Shack brand, an express carwash operator affiliated with WWS Enterprises. The deal will merge the two organizations into one of the largest express washing platforms in the Southeast.

The combined company will run 50 express locations across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Texas, according to reporting from Professional Carwashing & Detailing. All sites will operate under the Woodie's Wash Shack name, a brand the source describes as one of the strongest consumer identities in the industry.

How the deal is structured

Ryan Hanks, founder of Back Nine Equity and Links Car Wash, will lead the combined operating company. Donald E. Phillips, founder and majority owner of WWS Enterprises, will stay involved in a strategic role through a newly formed brand management company that will keep ownership of the Woodie's trademarks, trade dress and creative identity.

That structure separates the operating business from the brand assets, allowing the combined chain to run the locations while the brand itself remains under dedicated stewardship. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the coming months.

Hanks said the combination creates a platform with scale and talent, and pointed to Woodie's operating record and loyal customer base as reasons for the acquisition. Phillips framed the move as the next chapter for Woodie's, saying the goal from the start was to build a brand customers loved rather than simply to build washes. Both leaders emphasized shared values around customer experience and company culture.

Growth strategy

The purchase fits Back Nine Equity's stated approach of building a multi-market carwash platform through acquisitions, ground-up development and disciplined operations. The source notes the combined organization plans to keep expanding in the Tampa Bay area and adjacent markets, pooling resources and development capabilities across the larger footprint.

Leadership said the newly formed organization will focus on a smooth transition, continued technology investment and preserving the Woodie's culture and community commitments after the deal closes.

Why it matters for operators

This deal is another example of consolidation reshaping the express carwash segment, particularly in the fast-growing Southeast. A 50-site regional operator gains buying power, marketing reach and development capacity that independent single-site owners cannot easily match, which raises the competitive bar in shared markets like Florida and the Carolinas.

The structure of the transaction is also worth noting. By spinning brand ownership into a separate management company, the buyer keeps the operating business and the brand assets distinct. Operators considering an eventual sale or merger should understand how brand equity, trademarks and trade dress can be valued and retained separately from physical operations, since that separation can shape deal terms.

For operators watching membership-driven express models, the emphasis both leaders placed on customer experience and loyalty underscores where scaled players see their advantage. Chains with strong brands and large member bases can spread technology and operational investments across many sites, pressuring smaller competitors to sharpen their own retention and service to hold ground.