El Car Wash Enters Chicago with Sparkle Express Car Wash Acquisition, Unveils 50-Location Chicagoland Pipeline

Four-Site Acquisition Expands El Car Wash's Midwest Presence and Advances Multi-Region Growth Across the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic

MIAMI, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- El Car Wash ("El"), the fan-favorite car wash brand with a member-first model and unlimited everything, today announced its acquisition of four Sparkle Express Car Wash locations, marking the company's entry into Chicago and a significant expansion of its Midwest footprint. The acquisition establishes an immediate operating presence in the Chicago metropolitan area and serves as the foundation for El Car Wash's near-term plans to grow to 50 locations across Chicagoland through an established pipeline of ground-up development locations and strategic acquisitions.

The four acquired locations include:

• Chicago: 10100 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
• Cicero: 2912 S. Cicero Ave., Cicero, IL 60804
• Elgin: 1180 S. Randall Rd., Elgin, IL 60124
• Matteson: 4002 211th St., Matteson, IL 60443

"We have been building towards El's Chicago strategy for years and Sparkle Express is an excellent initial acquisition to launch our brand in the market, spurring a wave of new store openings and additional M&A," said Geoff Karas, CEO and Co-Founder of El Car Wash. "Sparkle has deep customer loyalty across multiple communities in Chicagoland that we intend to strengthen through operational excellence, customer centricity and quality orientation that has fueled El's historical growth. Chicagoland represents an enormous, incredibly exciting growth market as we continue to build El into a leading national brand."

As the Sparkle locations transition to El Car Wash, the company will invest in the sites while preserving the strengths that have made them successful. The locations will ultimately be rebranded and upgraded to deliver the signature El Car Wash experience — premium wash quality, super speedy service, unlimited membership, complimentary amenities and an unparalleled focus on hospitality.

The acquisition marks the start of a significant metro-wide roll-out of El Car Wash's 50-site pipeline, spanning the City of Chicago and Chicago suburbs in all directions, with entitlements secured in areas including Lyons, Lake in the Hills and Downers Grove.

El's debut in Chicago deepens its  presence across the Midwest where the company has 8 operating locations in Metro Detroit and an additional 10 openings planned in the next year. With operations now spanning the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, El Car Wash has grown to 110 locations and nearly 600,000 members, through a combination of strategic acquisitions and ground-up development.

ABOUT EL CAR WASH

El Car Wash is one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash brands, with over 100 locations and nearly 600,000 members across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Through a membership-driven model, strategic market expansion and state-of-the-art wash technology, El Car Wash delivers unparalleled customer service and a fast, consistent wash experience. The company continues to grow its footprint while investing in the communities it serves.

SOURCE El Car Wash