Family Carwash Profile: Jax Kar Wash

(From left) Three generations: Jack Milen, Bruce Milen and Jason Milen.

Answers submitted by Bruce Milen

Headquarters: Southfield, Mich.
Year Founded: 1953 by Jack Milen; Sold in 1998 and repurchased in 2001 by Bruce Milen
Founder: Jack Milen
Number of Locations Then: 1953, one location; 2001, seven locations
Number of Locations Now: Six
Carwash Services Offered: Conventional full service and express exterior
Add-on Profit Centers: Express detailing, gasoline, convenience store
Number of Family Members Currently Working for Your Organization: Three

Why carwashing? How did your family get started in the carwash business?
Prior to founding the company in 1953, Jack Milen had been in the carwash business with a partner. He liked the business and wanted to do something on his own. With the industry in its infancy, there was only one other carwash in the Detroit area, when Jack started Jax Kar Wash.

Bruce Milen and his brother, Tony Milen, purchased the business from their father in 1978 and grew the company to 11 locations. Wash Depot purchased Jax in 1998.

By 2001, Wash Depot was faltering and Detroit was a difficult market because of numerous $2 wash operations. Bruce Milen bought back the company that year at a good discount.

Since your family has been in the carwash industry, what are the three most significant developments that have helped the success of your business?
The three most significant areas have been the advent and success of detail express, the niche we have found as the only full-service operators in our market area, and the success of our long-term management team.

What is the biggest challenge facing carwash operators today? How do you/will you strategically confront this challenge to ensure the continued success of your operation?
In our market area, the biggest challenge facing carwash operators is the amount of $2 and $3 competition. We confront this challenge by giving a really good quality wash and providing excellent customer service. When somebody goes into a $2 or $3 carwash, their expectations are low, but they’re getting value for the money spent. When they come see us and spend $5 for exterior or $14 for full service, their expectations are higher so we have to fulfill those obligations.

Please discuss the impact that the carwash business has had on your family or the significance of having family contribute to the success of your carwash business.
Our family has been in the business together for 30 years or so, although we have been in the business for over 50 years. It has brought our family closer. We’ve been able to operate the business with great harmony. It’s been nice being able to talk about business among ourselves and have the confidence of working with family members who you know you can depend on.

Timeline

1950s

• 1953, business starts.
• 1956, gasoline service added.

1960s

• By 1960, four locations.
• Reconditioning cars; biggest customers are auto dealerships (steam clean engines, clean interiors, high-speed buff and wax).

1970s

• By 1970, six locations.
• Pay spray wax begins.
• 1978, Bruce and Tony Milen purchase business from Jack Milen.

1980s

• Eight locations.
• Polish wax, foam wax.

1990s

• 11 locations.
• Detail express begins.
• 1998, Wash Depot purchases Jax Kar Wash.

2000s

• 2001, Bruce Milen repurchases the business.
• Six locations.

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