What's that being built at the former Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant site in Bartlett?

People traveling along Stage Road in Bartlett have probably noticed construction at the former Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant site.

Missouri-based Club Car Wash is building a new location at the site at 8274 U.S. 64.

According to a revised site plan approved by the Bartlett Planning Commission in December, Club Car Wash plans to construct a roughly 5,000-square-foot automatic vehicle wash. The 1.07-acre site will have 20 self-service automobile vacuum cleaners on the north side of the 28-foot-high Club Car Wash building along with 22 parking spaces.

With demolition of the restaurant complete, construction is underway with an estimated completion of four to six months, according to Sam Harris, senior planner for the City of Bartlett’s planning and economic development department.

John Threadgill, president and CEO of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce, told The Commercial Appeal that he doesn’t necessarily think a car wash is the best use of the property where Abuelo’s once stood. However, he said given that the site has sat vacant for quite a while — Abuelo's closed in 2021, it’s better for it to be used than not. Threadgill also noted there’s obviously a national investment trend in the car wash industry.

“New technologies and consumer preferences has sparked an interest from investors,” Threadgill said. “I’ve seen forecasts that the car wash industry will almost top $30 billion in the U.S. market within the (next) 10 years. So, evidently, there’s money to be made in keeping a clean car.”

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Club Car Wash is touted as one of the fastest-growing car companies in the country. According to the company’s website, Club Car Wash recently announced the continuation of its rapid expansion with the opening of 14 new locations in September . The new additions are slated to bring Club Car Wash to 198 locations.

The Club Car Wash in Bartlett will be the company’s first Memphis-area location. Club Car Wash has other Tennessee locations in Manchester, Murfreesboro, Springfield and Nashville.

Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610 .

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What's that being built at the former Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant site in Bartlett?