Jun. 11—They're cashing in on suds and wax.

Several car wash chains are targeting Northeast Pennsylvania to expand their operations, banking on a migration to the region brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Throughout the eastern side of Pennsylvania, from north to south, we've gained in population," said Dave Edwards, president of the Car Wash Association of Pennsylvania. "Much of that population may have moved from the New York City metro area or the outlying areas in New Jersey and they're bringing their expectations from their previous metropolitan lifestyle."

More people with cars also equates to a bigger need for different varieties of car washes.

"There's an opportunity for a retail business to invest in real estate and install a new car wash to meet the demands of a growing community," Edwards said. "We're a ripe market for these companies to invest their brand here."

Specifically, Edwards noticed a handful of major brands that offer an express model — a process of getting cars in and out in two to five minutes — enter the market in Pennsylvania within the last couple of years.

"In today's market, everything seems to be drive-thru, whether it's fast food or curbside pickup," he said. "It's all about customer convenience."

Locally, Georgia-based Caliber Car Wash announced plans to establish car washes in Dickson City, Taylor and Pittston Twp.

Caliber received all approvals to construct a site at the former Community Bank, 901 Commerce Blvd., Dickson City Borough Manager Cesare Forconi said.

"They were anxious to get in there and take down the building, which they did, and get the site ready," Forconi said. "They also contributed to the stormwater improvement replacement pipe on the access road."

Caliber Taylor OP CO LLC purchased 0.85 acres from Community Bank N.A. for $1.175 million, according to a deed filed in September in Lackawanna County.

A coming-soon sign for Michigan-based Tommy's Express Car Wash sits at the site of the former Feel Good Motors, 924 Scranton Carbondale Highway, although Forconi isn't aware of any specific plans.

While Edwards recognizes Caliber and Tommy's would be located directly nearby, he believes they would serve different markets.

"It's very interesting to me from a retail and possible cannibalization factor that they are literally less than a quarter mile apart as the eye sees," Edwards said. "Tommy's is catching people who are work bound or homebound because that is a thoroughfare for people who live in Carbondale, Eynon and Peckville. Caliber is down in the metropolis of consumer shopping, but it makes perfect sense. They're going to work a little bit harder for activity because the consumer has come there for a multitude of reasons, and they already have a destination."

However, Edwards feels people's impatience may lead some to grab a quick car wash while waiting for a dinner table.

"It's a highly competitive market and there are a lot of different strategies on how car wash operators look at their location," he said.

Taylor Borough Manager Dan Zeleniak said Caliber has its building permit and started doing earthwork at the site.

Even with several other car washes in the borough, including Taylor Line Car Wash on South Keyser Avenue, which opened in April 2022, Zeleniak isn't surprised to see another one planned.

"It's no different than food stores," he said. "You wonder how many there can be? There are more cars than anything out there and they all get dirty."

Caliber Taylor OP CO LLC purchased the 0.82 acres from FNCB Bank for $700,000, according to a deed recorded in March 2022 in Lackawanna County.

Georgia-based Tidal Wave Auto Spa announced plans to build a car wash at the site of the former La Tonalteca in South Abington Twp. at 821 Northern Blvd., said Mark Dougherty, vice chair of the township board of supervisors.

It would be the second car wash on the same stretch of road, joining Classic Car Wash at 924 Northern Blvd.

Despite car washes popping up in bunches, Edwards expressed confidence both manual and automatic versions will survive.

"Both retail outlets with different functionalities serve the interest of an individual customer base," he said. "There are people who still love washing their car and take pride in doing it. They will continue going to that site because they're a creature of habit. I think there is enough demographic information and availability in the consumer market that no one is losing."

Jerry Orloski Sr., owner of Orloski's Car Wash and Lube Shop on Mundy Street in Wilkes-Barre Twp., began constructing a new car wash in March on Memorial Highway in Kingston Twp. He anticipates opening in the fall.

"There was a lot of traffic at that particular site, and we felt there was a need for the service in that market," Orloski said.

Orloski began noticing a trend of more people turning to automated car washes for convenience in recent years.

"People have become less do-it-yourselves and more likely to have someone else provide services for them," he said. "I think maybe that's why you're seeing some more activity in the industry. It seems like a lot more people are utilizing car washes because they realize how easy it is and they just feel better driving a clear car."

Contact the writer: rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.