IT'S YOUR BUSINESS
SPOTLIGHT ON JEWISH-OWNED BUSINESSES
CARWASHU, A FATHER-SON BUSINESS WITH COLLEGE CHEER
By Mitzi Saul, Marketing and Communications Director, Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida
Ever since Andrew Jaffa attended college at the University of Michigan, and then received a second degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida, he dreamed of working in the automotive industry. Andrew says that owning and operating a car washing business with his father Jimmy, is like working in the automotive industry. “A car wash is a manufacturing plant where we assemble clean cars. Dirty cars go in, and clean cars come out!” Like an automotive plant, the work can be physically demanding, and all moving parts need to be well-maintained in order to effectively and safely wash hundreds of cars every day.
Although their college-themed CarwashU has only been around for a little over three years, the father-son team have been in the car wash business for a long time. Baywash was a traditional full-service wash built in 1999 and sold in 2003 as the industry moved from full serve to express car
washes. From 2005 to 2016 they built and operated four CarbuX express car washes while washing approximately 3,000,000 vehicles during that time. In the 70’s and 80’s Jimmy was busy building residential homes throughout the Jacksonville area, but he is most proud of being a co-founder of Jacksonville’s Eruv in 1999. An Eruv is a wire “wall” that surrounds the community (around 10 square miles in Mandarin) that allows observant Jews to carry items and push strollers during Shabbat and on holidays. Throughout the years he and other volunteers have spent countless hours inspecting and maintaining the Eruv. After getting out of the home building business, he built and operated self-storages and self-serve car washes. That’s where he and his son germinated the idea to build full wash tunnels.
Business is booming (especially during sunny days) and the Jaffas plan on opening another CarwashU in Orange
Park later this month. With considerable investment and years of planning, CarwashU is the only flat-belt car wash in Jacksonville. Unlike the chains used at other washes, the flat belt is literally a moving sidewalk, and this means that there is no damage to tires or rims.
Andrew appreciates the innovative and technical side of the car wash. “I love the challenges, and every day is so unique. Most importantly, I’m grateful and lucky to have worked with and learned from my father. He’s been an amazing mentor for the past 25 years.”
CarwashU, “the only wheel-safe car wash” is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week and located at 6929 103rd Street on the westside of Jacksonville. The second location opening in mid-October will be at 950 Park Avenue in Orange Park. Car washes start at $8. Go to carwashu.com to learn more.
