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Jul 21, 2023

Here's the latest on 2 new car washes planned in Wisconsin Rapids

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – As warmer temperatures bring longer lines at car washes,

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – As warmer temperatures bring longer lines at car washes, plans for two more options are in the works.

Since May, the city's Planning Commission has reviewed and approved two site plans for new car washes to be built. Here's what you should know about the new developments.

Last week, the city's Planning Commission approved plans for TWAS Properties to build a Tidal Wave Auto Spa on an outlot of the former Shopko parking lot along Riverview Expressway, near the existing Sudzee Car Wash.

The site plan includes building a new car wash, a two-lane kiosk pay station and vacuum stall that would operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and employ 10-15 workers, with about five or six working at a time.

The outlot is one of two available for development at the edge of the parking lot of the former Shopko department store. Earlier this month, Tom Richards, a partner with Cool Investment LLC − an Arizona-based business that purchased the Shopko building in April 2022 – announced Big Lots, Marshalls, Harbor Freight and Five Below will fill the building. The four stores will aim to open later this year and early next year, he said.

More:How does a business like Starbucks or Qdoba come to Wisconsin Rapids?

More:Wisconsin Rapids development projects to watch in 2023: Shopko building, hospital, jail

City officials approved plans last May for a car wash on the site of the former Barrett's Auctions at 4120 Eighth St. S.

Extreme Clean Carwash's owner, Dan Gunsteen, said demolition is planned for this spring and construction could begin this summer at the earliest. Gunsteen said building the car washes usually takes about three or four months, and he hopes to open the Wisconsin Rapids location in the fall or winter, before the holiday season.

Gunsteen said while he has lived in Illinois his whole life, he has spent time at a vacation home near Lake Camelot for almost 40 years and is excited to be part of the business community serving both the Wisconsin Rapids and Nekoosa areas.

Contact Caitlin at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.