'We're big believers in Marion County': Two new Caliber Car Washes coming to town
Work is underway to convert the former Danny's Car Wash at 815 S. Pine Ave., Ocala, into a Caliber Car Wash. It's expected to open in November.
Mac McCall and Danny York own that location. They currently operate a Caliber Car Wash at 4956 E. Silver Springs Blvd. and also are building another on East Maricamp Road at Bahia Avenue Court in Silver Springs Shores. The two new locations will employ about 30 people.
According to land records on file with the court clerk, Caliber Ocala Pine Dev. Co. purchased the South Pine Avenue property for $2 million in December. The seller was
441 Car Wash LLC, owned and operated by local businessman Digvijay "Danny" Gaekwad.
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A City of Ocala building permit shows Ward-Humphrey General Contractors of Marietta, Georgia, was granted a permit for renovation in June. The total job value is listed at $525,000.
A Marion County Building Department permit issued in March for work at the 125 Bahia Ave. Court location lists the owner as Caliber Ocala Maricamp Dev. and the contractor as Bay to Bay Properties LLC of Safety Harbor. The construction value there is listed at $1.5 million.
What makes Caliber Car Wash different?
“We're big believers in Marion County," McCall said during a recent phone interview.
McCall said the franchise offers limitless Classic basic, Custom or Caliber with wax washes on monthly and annual plans starting around $20.
The car wash drive-through lanes include a “Members Only Lane” that has a license plate reader. It recognizes members’ license numbers and lifts the crossing lane arm to allow entry.
Customers are what make Caliber successful
Rhett Lamoreaux is manager of the East Silver Springs Boulevard location. He is in the final semester of work toward a degree in marketing from University of North Florida and plans to transfer to Caliber's Pine Avenue location in November.
Lamoreaux said the East Silver Springs location currently washes about 20,000 vehicles monthly and has about 5,000 Limitless Wash Memberships.
"The biggest challenge is definitely getting a well-rounded staff who understand that the customers are what makes us successful. We have to engage with the consumer and make sure they have a 110% positive experience every single time they step foot on site," Lamoreaux wrote in a text.
"Quality of how the car is cleaned is 100 percent a huge factor, but that falls back on us and our maintenance team making sure we take immaculate care of our equipment so every car can receive the best wash...," he stated.
Candace Cranston, is a manager trainee with the East Silver Springs Boulevard location. A recent visit there found her helping customers enter the wash lane while customers like Mike Barbier of MVB Appliance of Ocala detailed his truck using the equipment at one of the many detailing spaces.
"I love it. The (vacuum and detail equipment) is accessible," he said.
Caliber has 26 locally managed operations in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas and employs up to 700 people.
The Atlanta-based group of privately owned franchises is set to grow by 100 new locations, its website states.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: More Caliber Car Washes coming to Ocala, Marion County
