WashX opens second Baltimore-area wash in Aberdeen

WashX Car Wash has opened its second location in the Baltimore area, moving into a site at 965 Middleton Road in the Aberdeen section of Harford County, Maryland. According to reporting from Car Wash Business Center, the new facility fronts MD Route 22 and joins the company's first wash, which opened on Belair Road in Fallston in 2024.

The wash is operated by WashX LLC, whose managing member is Harry G. Pappas III. Ownership plans to develop additional sites across the greater Baltimore metropolitan region. Tom Fidler, executive vice president and principal at MacKenzie Retail, represented WashX in the lease transaction and noted that it took more than four years to bring the Aberdeen site to completion.

A technology and service positioning

WashX markets itself around what it calls a car spa experience, leaning on wash technology and environmental practices to set itself apart. The company points to rainwater harvesting, water recycling, nano-bubble technology, and proper materials disposal as core to its operation. Nano-bubble technology generates ultra-fine gas bubbles that stay suspended in the water rather than rising to the surface, creating highly oxygenated water intended to break down contaminants.

Partner Michael Deutsch described the concept as aiming to be something more than a car wash, and emphasized preserving vehicle value by avoiding the scratches and paint damage that improper washing methods can cause. The company offers unlimited-wash membership options and runs dedicated cleaning programs for corporate fleets. Memberships purchased at the Fallston location will be honored at the Aberdeen site.

Site and market details

The Aberdeen location shares its site with Starbucks and Popeyes, and the property owner, Middleton Holdings, plans a 6,500 square foot shopping center on the parcel. WashX ownership already has ties to the submarket through two Rent-A-Center stores operated by the Pappas family.

The surrounding trade area supports the investment. More than 50,000 people live within a five-mile radius of the site, including nearly 20,000 households with average household income above $100,000, plus roughly 50,000 people who work within that radius.

Fidler tied the broader growth of the category to time-strapped consumers and to the rise of monthly membership programs and multifamily housing, where residents lack outdoor hose connections. He cited International Carwash Association figures showing 79 percent of consumers now use professional washes, up from 48 percent in 1994, across more than 63,000 facilities that complete over two billion washes a year in a $15 billion industry.

Why it matters for operators

WashX offers a useful template for independent operators pursuing measured local growth rather than regional or national scale. The company is building density in markets where its ownership already has customer relationships and business ties, which lowers the cost of building brand trust in a new submarket.

The four-year timeline Fidler described for the Aberdeen site is a reminder that site selection and entitlement remain the slowest and riskiest parts of expansion. Cotenancy with high-traffic brands and a demographically strong trade area can justify that patience, but operators should plan financing and pipeline accordingly.

Finally, WashX's emphasis on water recycling and reduced consumption is worth noting as jurisdictions tighten water restrictions. Professional washes use roughly 35 gallons per vehicle versus more than 100 gallons for home washing, a message that doubles as both a marketing point and a regulatory hedge.