Tommy's Express starts construction on first Chico, California site
The franchise's new tunnel wash on Forest Avenue is slated to open in 2027, marking its entry into the Northern California market.
By The Car Wash News Staff
3 min read
Tommy's Express has broken ground on its first location in Chico, California, adding another site to the fast-growing national franchise's expanding footprint. The wash will sit at 2028 Forest Avenue near a Target store and is expected to open in 2027, according to an announcement carried by the International Carwash Association.
The Holland, Michigan-based brand said the Chico facility will carry its signature building design and its latest proprietary wash equipment. The company promises a full wash in under three minutes.
What the site will offer
The tunnel will run vehicles through on a dual-belt conveyor built to handle a range of vehicle types, with large bay windows giving customers a view of the wash in progress. Outside the tunnel, the location will provide free self-serve interior vacuum stations and mat washers.
Membership is a central part of the model. Customers can sign up for the TommyClub Unlimited Wash Membership through the brand's mobile app, and license plate recognition technology allows members automatic entry. The program offers four customizable wash package tiers aimed at different needs and budgets.
Tommy's Express traces its roots to Quality Car Wash, founded by Jacob, Sonny, and Tom Essenburg in 1969, a 57-year history the company references in its branding. Its buildings and equipment, originally developed by Tommy Car Wash Systems, are manufactured in West Michigan. The franchise says it provides operators with training, marketing, technical support, and access to franchise-exclusive wash products and technology. Entrepreneur Magazine has ranked the brand No. 1 in the car wash category on its Franchise 500 list.
Why it matters for operators
The Chico groundbreaking is another data point in the continued build-out of large express tunnel franchises into secondary and mid-size markets. For independent operators in Northern California and similar regions, the arrival of a national brand with recognized signage, app-based membership, and license plate recognition raises the competitive baseline on both convenience and speed.
The under-three-minute wash time and free vacuums and mat washers reflect the amenity package customers increasingly expect from express exterior washes. Operators evaluating their own offerings should note how a well-capitalized entrant bundles free ancillary services with a tiered subscription to drive membership sign-ups at the point of sale.
The roughly one-year gap between groundbreaking and a projected 2027 opening is also worth watching. It gives existing washes in the Chico trade area a window to strengthen customer retention, lock in members, and sharpen their value proposition before a new competitor comes online. Monitoring where national franchises choose to break ground, often near high-traffic retail anchors like the Target cited here, can help independents anticipate competitive pressure in their own markets and plan accordingly.
