New Antioch car wash business loves dirty cars

Blair Martineau loves dirty cars.

The more the better, especially if they are getting scrubbed down at his new car wash in Antioch.

The Grayslake man opened the Ultimate Car Wash and Detailing Center last week. The business is on Route 173 in front of Menard's.

The car wash is different from many, because its 100-foot-long tunnel is more than twice the length of more-typical car washes, Martineau said.

"Our system is packed with sophisticated cleaning equipment," he said. "Other car washes try to do the same job in a short tunnel but can't get the same quality results."

While some people might question the wisdom of starting a business in the face of a severe recession, Martineau, 44, says he's feeling confident going forward.

"We have a lot of things in our favor," he said. "A car is a person's second biggest investment. And because of the times, people are hanging on to their cars longer and taking better care of them. Keeping them clean is part of that."

The business will employ 14 people. Martineau's wife Karen, a stay-at-home mom, will be helping as much as she can, too.

Martineau said opening the business now is much better than when gas prices were skyrocketing.

"Car washes were really having a hard time when gas was four bucks a gallon," he said. "If you are dropping $100 in your tank, you don't want to add the price of a wash. We're about half that now. I think we're good."