The Mineola Board of Trustees reserved judgment on a proposal for a “green” car wash at 99 Jericho Tpke. during its meeting last Wednesday night, pending resolution of a court case citing the property’s owners for violations of village code.
Benjamin Musheyev, a partner in the prospective car wash business, said the car wash would be the first “green” car wash in the U.S., using a portable steam cleaning machine for exterior and interior cleaning on cars.
He said the car wash will seek to appeal to luxury car owners, with cleaning rates to range from $15 for a basic exterior cleaning to $200 for a three-hour detailing service in addition to exterior and interior cleaning.
“We’re expecting to have luxury cars there. We’re going to give each customer the service they deserve,” Musheyev said.
During the public hearing on the proposed car wash, Daniel Whalen, Mineola superintendent of buildings, told the village board that the owners of the 99 Jericho Tpke. property were cited for two village code violations on it last month and were due to make a municipal court appearance on Sept. 20 to resolve that issue. He didn’t specify the violations and didn’t state who the owners are, but he also said there is a default judgment of $1,700 against the owners for outstanding parking tickets.
When asked by Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss if he was aware of the code violations, Musheyev said he only knew that there are sheds on the property to be removed.
After the hearing, Musheyev said he and his partner, Jason Lugo, have signed a conditional lease for the 4,000-square foot property, pending the village board’s approval of their business plan. He said changes to the building would be “cosmetic” and would include repainting it.
Musheyev showed board members a brief video about the steam cleaning technology to be used in the car wash at the outset of the hearing. The video demonstrated a two-step cleaning process, with the application of steam followed by use of a microfiber towel to remove dirt from the surfaces steamed.
He said the business would have up to 20 employees working in teams at peak hours to clean cars in the parking lot at 99 Jericho Tpke. Each car would take approximately 20 minutes for a basic cleaning, with two to three people working on each of six cars to be cleaned at a time.
Asked where the employees would park, Musheyev said there was a municipal parking lot near the proposed car wash location.
He emphasized the eco-friendly aspect of the operation, saying each car would require about one gallon of water to be cleaned.
“We’re helping the community and saving the world,” Musheyev said.
Customers would wait for their cars in the building on the premises, where they could purchase pre-packaged beverages and food, and accessories for their cars.
After the hearing, Lugo said the car wash would offer a standardized menu of eight cleaning packages customers could select for their cars.
Responding to Strauss’ question about hours of operation, Musheyev said he hoped to maintain a 24-hour operation.
“That’s a residential neighborhood,” Strauss said.
Musheyev said the noise volume of the steam cleaners is low and he wants the location to be open when other car washes are closed.
Trustee Dennis Walsh sounded a cautionary note on the car wash hours.
“Everyone who comes to your car wash would be coming through the neighborhood. Interacting with the neighborhood on a 24-hour basis isn’t a good idea,” Walsh said.
In a letter sent to the board after the meeting, Musheyev said they would be willing to amend their hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Musheyev and Lugo, both Queens residents, formerly worked together as lifeguards in New York City. Lugo said he has experience doing mobile power washing. He said eventually the partners want to bring the car washing service to customers’ homes.
