Burgess Family - Car Wash – History
835 West Union St, Newark, NY1964
1964 – Frederick W Burgess Jr and Frederick J DeVries built the first self-serve carwash in Wayne County called Sofspra Car Wash. The self-serve car wash consisted of four coin operated hand wash bays and two vacuums. The cost of using the hand wash bay was twenty-five cents for five minutes. The vacuums cost ten cents for 5 minutes of vacuuming.
Read more1968
1968 – The first tunnel car wash was added. The business name was changed to Freddies Insta Wash. Texaco Gas pumps were installed in front of the tunnel wash a few years later.
Read more1990
1990 – Three of Frederick Burgess’s sons, Terry, Matt & Chris came on board to erect a new and larger all cloth tunnel wash at 811 W Union Street to handle trucks and vans. The name of the business was changed from Freddies Insta Wash to Whatta Corp DBA Whata Wash. In 2010 a pet wash was added to the front porch area.
Read more2002
2002 – Two new Laserwash 4000 in-bays were installed at the original location at 835 W Union St. The front of the building was remodeled and faced with block.
Read more2020
May 2020 – Heading towards retirement, a decision was made to sell the cloth tunnel wash at 811 W Union Street. Chris remains as owner/operator of Whata Wash at the original location, 835 W Union Street. In keeping with the competition, a decision was made to upgrade the touch free washes to Laserwash 360 Plus.
Read moreBurgess Family - Car Wash – History
835 West Union St, Newark, NY1964
1964 – Frederick W Burgess Jr and Frederick J DeVries built the first self-serve carwash in Wayne County called Sofspra Car Wash. The self-serve car wash consisted of four coin operated hand wash bays and two vacuums. The cost of using the hand wash bay was twenty-five cents for five minutes. The vacuums cost ten cents for 5 minutes of vacuuming.
Read more1968
1968 – The first tunnel car wash was added. The business name was changed to Freddies Insta Wash. Texaco Gas pumps were installed in front of the tunnel wash a few years later.
Read more1990
1990 – Three of Frederick Burgess’s sons, Terry, Matt & Chris came on board to erect a new and larger all cloth tunnel wash at 811 W Union Street to handle trucks and vans. The name of the business was changed from Freddies Insta Wash to Whatta Corp DBA Whata Wash. In 2010 a pet wash was…
Read more2002
2002 – Two new Laserwash 4000 in-bays were installed at the original location at 835 W Union St. The front of the building was remodeled and faced with block.
Read more2020
May 2020 – Heading towards retirement, a decision was made to sell the cloth tunnel wash at 811 W Union Street. Chris remains as owner/operator of Whata Wash at the original location, 835 W Union Street. In keeping with the competition, a decision was made to upgrade the touch free washes to Laserwash 360 Plus.
Read more