Links Car Wash to acquire Woodie's Wash Shack in Southeast expansion

Links Car Wash parent company Back Nine Equity has agreed to acquire the Woodie's Wash Shack brand, an express car wash operator affiliated with WWS Enterprises. The deal combines two Southeast operators into a single platform that will carry the Woodie's Wash Shack name.

According to reporting from Car Wash Business Center, the merged company will run 50 express car wash locations across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Texas. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the coming months.

Who leads the combined company

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 move into a strategic role through a newly formed brand management company that keeps ownership of the Woodie's Wash Shack brand, trademarks, trade dress and creative identity.

That structure separates operations from brand stewardship. The operating platform will run day to day under Hanks, while the Woodie's brand assets stay under a dedicated management entity. Phillips said the deal is "the next chapter in the evolution of Woodie's," framing the combination as a way to scale while protecting the surf-inspired identity that built the brand's customer base in the Tampa Bay market.

Back Nine Equity serves as the Hanks family office and invests across real estate, private equity and operating businesses. The company describes its car wash strategy as building a scaled, multi-market platform through acquisitions, ground-up development and disciplined operations. WWS Enterprises, meanwhile, grew Woodie's into a recognized Florida express brand known for community engagement and customer experience.

Growth plans and market focus

The merged organization plans to continue expanding in the Tampa Bay area and adjacent markets, using the combined company's development capabilities and resources. Both leaders emphasized preserving Woodie's culture while investing in technology and the customer experience. Hanks said the combination creates "a platform with tremendous scale, exceptional talent and significant opportunities for future growth."

The deal reflects a broader pattern in the express car wash sector, where regional operators are combining to reach greater scale across multiple states. Recent industry activity has included similar consolidation moves by other fast-growing express platforms.

Why it matters for operators

Consolidation among regional express chains continues to reshape competitive dynamics in the Southeast. For independent operators in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Texas, a 50-site platform means a larger, better-capitalized competitor with more buying power, deeper development pipelines and stronger loyalty programs.

The structure of this deal is worth noting. Keeping brand ownership in a separate management company signals that the buyer sees the Woodie's name itself as a core asset worth protecting, not just the sites and equipment. Operators weighing their own sale or partnership should recognize that a strong consumer brand and a distinctive identity can carry real deal value beyond real estate and wash volume.

Operators competing near these locations should watch for accelerated development, membership pricing pressure and marketing investment as the combined company pushes into new markets. Those considering an exit may find that disciplined multi-market buyers remain active and are willing to preserve founder-built brands rather than fold them into a generic banner.