New Jersey car wash group holds first networking event at car collectors club

The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey (CWONJ) held its first event on August 18, drawing members and guests to the Shore Car Club, a private car storage and members club in the Garden State. According to reporting from Car Wash Business Center, the three-hour gathering ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and featured a barista bar food truck, a catered lunch, and beverages supplied by a lineup of industry sponsors.

CWONJ President Dino Nicoletta described the outing as a first for the group and said the setting gave members a chance to step away from daily operations and connect informally. Nicoletta said the surroundings gave members "a unique opportunity to network in a relaxed, low-key environment."

A collector's club as the backdrop

The event took place at a 40,000-square-foot facility that opened in November 2025 and is described as the first of its kind in New Jersey. The Shore Car Club offers private garages, two indoor wash bays, and secure storage for 110 vehicles, along with members' spaces that include a large lounge, a library, a game room, driving simulators, outdoor terraces, and co-working areas. The venue is owned by Bryan, Michelle, and Dayna Gold, with Michael Salerno as a co-founder.

Sponsorship for the event came from a broad group of industry suppliers. Named sponsors included NCS and Micrologic, with additional support for the food truck, beverages, and barista bar from ICS, Simoniz USA, Vacutech, Kirikian Industries/Neoglide, Kleen-Rite, and Speeders. Vacutech's Victor Thomas, an event sponsor, called the venue and cars impressive and said he hoped to return next year.

Fall meeting to feature Express Wash Concepts founder

CWONJ has already lined up its next gathering, a Fall Membership Meeting scheduled for November 10 at the Suburban Golf Club in Union. The featured speaker will be John Roush, founder and chief executive officer of Ohio-based Express Wash Concepts.

Roush brings more than 25 years of experience across retail, commercial, and residential development. He has developed and built more than 142 multi-branded express tunnel car washes under brands including Moo Moo Express, Flying Ace Express, Clean Express, Green Clean Express, and Bee Clean Express. He opened his first wash in 2008 in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, outside Columbus. His planned address will cover his company's history, the importance of building a strong team, and its commitment to cause marketing.

Why it matters for operators

Regional associations remain one of the more accessible ways for independent and multi-site operators to build relationships, compare notes on pressures like labor and pricing, and stay connected to suppliers. CWONJ's decision to hold its first event in an unusual, hospitality-forward venue reflects a broader reality: turnout often depends on giving busy operators a reason to leave their sites for a few hours. Events built around networking rather than a hard sell tend to draw stronger attendance and deeper conversations.

The November meeting offers more direct operational value. Hearing from an operator who has built well over 100 express tunnels gives smaller washes a chance to learn how a large chain approaches site selection, team building, and community marketing. Operators weighing whether to join or engage with a state association can treat lineups like this as a gauge of the value on offer. Local groups that can attract national-caliber speakers are worth the membership cost for the knowledge transfer alone.