Gravette Auto Wasche open for business

GRAVETTE — After several months of renovation, Gravette Auto Wasche owners John A. Lykins, his wife Janice and their son John opened the car wash July 3.

The Lykins family bought the business in March and spent the last three months doing significant upgrades at the property. “I just got tired of not having a place to clean my vehicles,” the elder Lykins said. “We are excited about being able to provide this service to the community.”

Lykins and car wash manager Levi Duncan have worked to install new equipment and repaint the business inside and out. The utility room features new instant hot water heaters and water softening equipment. New brushes and handles have been added to each of the five bays.

Lykins and Duncan have been hampered in their overhaul of the car wash only by some difficulty obtaining parts. When parts became available, they have ordered multiples in order to have a backup stock on hand when needed.

Customers can drive into any of the self-serve manual wash bays and wash their vehicles, then pull out and clean the interior with the vacuum on the north side of the property.

The car wash uses premium wash and wax products that easily remove road grime, tree sap and insect debris. The wash is followed by a triple-filtered spot-free rinse. The new automated payment system takes only dollar bills and quarters but Lykins says it will be equipped to accept credit and debit cards.

A large automated wash bay with a brushless cleaning system will be in operation in a couple of weeks.

Lykins pointed out the property is well-lit and surveillance cameras are in use so customers can feel safe using the car wash both day and night. He said he and Duncan are committed to keeping the place nice and clean and hope their customers will cooperate. “With proper maintenance, we will be able to keep prices down,” he said.

Lykins and his family moved to Gravette 30 years ago from Bentonville. They lived in several states while he was employed with Walmart, where he started as a stock boy and moved his way up to regional manager before he retired. Duncan is a Gravette native and a 2005 graduate of Gravette High School.