Kelly and Jason Choate’s journey into the car wash industry began 25 years ago when they drove past a car wash under construction in Carthage, Missouri. Fast forward to today, they own and operate Hurricane Car Wash, a successful business with three locations in Missouri. Here’s how they turned their curiosity into a thriving venture.
The Origin of Hurricane Car Wash
One day, while driving by what is now their South Carthage location, Jason and Kelly wondered aloud, “How come we didn’t think about getting into the car wash business?” Years later, they ran into the owner of that wash at the bank, who was a friend of theirs. He mentioned that he was looking to sell the wash. Jason recalls replying enthusiastically, “Well, we need to talk.” Eight years ago, Jason and Kelly purchased their first wash and entered the car wash world together.
Starting with that first wash, the Choates expanded to three locations: two in Carthage and one in Webb City. Despite their initial lack of experience, their manufacturing and water systems backgrounds proved invaluable. Jason, formerly a plant superintendent overseeing manufacturing operations, now serves as the Director of Water Services for the City of Carthage. Kelly worked alongside him at the same manufacturing plant and specialized in supply management. Jason, said, “It ended up being a good combination for us, having the water and manufacturing background.”
Adjusting to the Car Wash Industry
Learning a new industry is never easy, especially the car wash industry. There are very few textbooks or courses available about running a car wash business which means you just have to dive in and learn from trial and error. That is exactly what Jason and Kelly have done. When asked how they learned car wash maintenance Kelly answered, “We just lived it, breathed it for many years.” This theme is common among many new car wash owners we interviewed at Kleen-Rite.
Kelly continued, “In the very beginning, we would be at the wash in the middle of the night because Jason worked a day job. I was here during the day and would try to accomplish and learn everything I could. In the evenings, he would help me with anything I couldn’t figure out myself or physically couldn’t do. So, we were up here all hours of the night until we finally kind of got it well learned.”
Car washes are a lot of work. There is always something to do and problems can arise at any time of the day, including at night, and you have to be ready to go and fix it. Kelly concluded her response by stating, “We still learn something new every day.” Her statement resonates with everyone working in the car wash industry.
Upgrading Technology for Better Customer Experience
From day one, Jason and Kelly have focused on upgrading equipment and making improvements that have allowed Hurricane Car Wash to expand. Jason said, “We’ve been investing back at the business, hot, heavy, ever since day one.” Initially, they inherited outdated D&S automatic systems at all three locations. Over time, they replaced them with advanced D&S IQ soft-touch and touch-free systems, offering customers more reliable and efficient washes.
They also embraced diverse payment options to serve varying demographics. In Carthage, one location primarily handles cash payments, while the other sees more credit card use. Accepting both forms of payment requires a significant investment in equipment, which is yet another way Jason and Kelly have invested in the future success of their wash as payment trends continue to change rapidly. We are sure they will add new technology as new forms of payment emerge and become popular.
Supporting the Local Community
Jason and Kelly have lived in the Carthage area for 26 years and are deeply rooted in their community. Their kids are involved in sports and many other activities, so naturally, they help out with fundraisers. They also like to sponsor local car clubs and car shows. Kelly said “Our church does some stuff with Patterson ministries. So, we’ll sponsor the Rallye in the Park, which is a big thing.” Hurricane Car Wash also sponsors the Maple Leaf Parade, the largest parade in Missouri. “It’s a big, big week here!”, exclaimed Kelly. These highlights are just a few of the many impactful outreach initiatives Hurricane Car Wash supports each year.
Looking to the Future
We are thrilled to welcome Hurricane Car Wash to the Kleen-Rite family and wish them many more years of success. Thank you for allowing us to visit your wash and sharing your amazing story with us and our customers!