Legacy Continues With Carwash Expansion

DELANO, Kan. -- Joe's Seat Cover & Car Wash Center has been a fixture at 206 N. Seneca St. in Delano since 1954. Founder Joe Steven recently sold it to his sons: Brad, Duane and Glenn Steven. The three have run the carwash for more than a decade.

On the same day they closed the sale, Oct. 31, the three also bought the Red Carpet Car Wash at 308 N. West St. They put up the "Joe's" sign at the new location Thursday.

The three own the two full-service carwashes equally under the legal name of Estfan LLC.

"We've been at this for 48 years, so this is a big step for us," said Duane Steven.

Their father preached hard work to his large family, Brad Steven said.

Craig and Dale Steven started Spangles, where their sister, Rene, is operations manager. Tom Steven owns Reddi Root'r. Rod Steven founded the Little Joe's carwash chain and later sold it. Joe Steven is a west-side dentist and entrepreneur.

Now they are expanding the operation away from just North Seneca Street.

They repainted the Red Carpet building and installed displays in the waiting room, and they plan to resurface the parking lot and replace some of the equipment.

The detailing operation at Red Carpet has moved to the original Joe's location.

Even when self-service carwashes dominate, their business thrives.

"Most people wash their cars themselves," said Duane Steven. "So we're trying to fight back with service."

A basic carwash costs $11.95.

Duane Steven said the Joe's on North Seneca Street has sales of between $1.2 million and $1.4 million a year. It sees 100 to 300 cars a day in the summer and up to twice that many in the winter. It employs 20 to 35 people washing and detailing cars, cleaning seat covers and changing oil.

"There's no question we'll do better than that here," he said, looking around his office at the former Red Carpet. "There's no comparison on the traffic count."

Source: Kansas.com

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