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As I often do, I recently made a stop at my go-to carwash at 320 N. La Brea Avenue.
For years, it’s been a hidden gem — no frills, no nonsense, and a drying system that left
my car gleaming without needing a towel. I could be in and out in five minutes, the lines
were not long, and the value was unmatched. So when the manager, Mario, told me
that last week was their last under the current ownership, I had to find out what was
going on.
Long known to locals as Inglewood Express Car Wash — has been acquired by LUV
Car Wash, a rising name in the national car wash industry. The deal, completed on May
9, marks LUV’s latest step in its aggressive expansion into the competitive Los Angeles
market. The Inglewood site becomes the 77th location for the brand.
LUV is based in Gilbert, Arizona, and is a portfolio company of Susquehanna Private
Capital, a private equity firm that has backed the chain since 2021. LUV’s leadership
includes co-founder and CEO Darren Skarecky and co-founder and Chief Development
Officer JT Thomson. They are two industry veterans who have helped push the chain’s
rapid growth by focusing on high-quality, express-style exterior car wash services.
According to company statements, the acquisition of Inglewood Express is part of a
broader strategy to target high-traffic, high-visibility locations in dense urban markets.
The Inglewood location, just blocks from major redevelopment efforts surrounding SoFi
Stadium and the highly favored Intuit Dome, is a prime piece of real estate. Though LUV
hasn’t yet released specifics about the remodeling, locals can expect the site to be
modernized in the coming weeks. Based on LUV’s national footprint, upgrades will likely
include automated pay stations, high-pressure rinse tunnels, advanced water recycling
systems, and subscription-based wash club services.
While corporate growth is usually accompanied by promises of efficiency and polish,
longtime customers — myself included — may have mixed emotions. Inglewood
Express has been a neighborhood standby, known not just for its speed and value, but
also for its consistency. You knew what you were getting: no upsells, no wait times, and
a car that looked clean without streaks or the need for a wipe-down.
What remains to be seen is whether the remodeled location will live up to the
expectations of locals who have come to rely on its simplicity and affordability. I won’t
mention specific prices (yet), but trust me — if the new model doesn’t meet the bar set
by the old one, I’ll be the first to snitch.
Of course, change in Inglewood is nothing new. The City of Champions has been
undergoing a wave of transformation ever since MSG lit up the corner of Prairie and
Manchester anew, and the NFL and NBA laid claim to the sports hubs down the street.
New development brings opportunity — and rising costs. Small businesses often
become casualties or undergo transformations that risk alienating their base. With LUV
Car Wash entering the scene, this could go either way.
In their partnership with Susquehanna Private Capital, Skarecky and Thomson have
emphasized a founder-focused approach, promising operational autonomy for local
managers and a light corporate touch. The hope is that LUV’s leadership will maintain
the local spirit of Inglewood Express while enhancing service through technology and
consistency. But as with any transition, the proof will be in the pudding and the wash.
For now, the site is expected to undergo renovations, which are already underway, and
customers should anticipate changes in layout, services, and potentially pricing. LUV
has not announced a reopening date, but given their track record of quick transitions, it
likely won’t be long. Meanwhile I found myself down the street, at AutoZone, picking up
a chamois so I could manually maintain my shimmer and shine in my driveway for
Mother’s Day
In a neighborhood where authenticity is increasingly hard to preserve, the future of the
320 N. La Brea car wash, located on the east side of the street, between El Polo Loco
and Walgreens, may serve as a small but telling test case. Can a national chain
maintain the trust and loyalty earned by a locally loved business? LUV Car Wash has its
work cut out, because we don’t play when it comes to keeping the ride looking good.
Until then, I’ll be watching, and if the dryers don’t hit like they used to — or if LUV starts
hitting us up with vacuum charges, you’ll hear about it here first.
Play Ball.
