Here’s what happens when you focus on providing the ultimate car wash experience

By Patricia Nugent

Splash Car Wash is soon ushering in a new era by opening the Express Interior/Exterior Detail Center and a second Super Wash Tunnel at its flagship Fairlawn location.

Within the five-acre campus, the new detailing facility will provide high-tech revitalizing in one location to meticulously clean vehicles.

The second Super Wash Tunnel, which houses a 175-foot tunnel similar to the one in the adjacent building, is currently being renovated.

It’s All in the Details
According to General Manager Michael Blitch, the new Express Interior/Exterior Detail Center will include a precision conveyor belt with two-person teams stationed at five stages spaced every 20 feet. They will each perform a different detailing function and offer services, from vacuuming carpets and floor mats, seats and trunk, to wiping down the dashboard, center console, windows and doorjambs and fixing windshield stars. From the time your vehicle enters the Express Interior Tunnel will take about 10 minutes from start to finish.

While the detailing is happening, car owners can kick back and relax in the welcoming lobby, enjoying soft drinks or gourmet coffee.

Also within the building will be eight spacious fine detail bays for auto detailing, where customers can set up an appointment for one of the fine detail services, ranging from hand waxing and ceramic coating to carpet shampooing, leather conditioning and much more.

The Real Difference
The experts at Splash know a thing or two about the products they invest in and their effect on a car’s finish.

Offering Simonize cleansing agents to break down oils and road salts paves the way for returning the finish to a showroom shine, through hot wax and ceramic sealants that actually make the car easier to wash over time.

From a mechanical perspective, they tap into NeoGlide foam instead of brushes to provide gentle friction to safely clean your vehicle. It does not absorb dirt and grime, but rather repels it.

They also offer TLC for the undercarriage of cars by blasting away dirt and grim and then applying a rust inhibitor in the final stage.

Membership Has Its Perks
Splash Car Wash likes to reward its loyal members with monthly packages that save them money and offer the nice perk of unlimited washes. There are 4 levels of unlimited wash packages.

For DIY-ers who like to clean their own interiors, every wash or package includes access to high-powered vacuums designed to get vehicles to a higher level of clean, located directly outside the tunnels.

Even with all the high-tech touches, Splash still offers personable customer service, with a kiosk area where customers are greeted and their needs met in an efficient manner, all from the convenience of their vehicle.

Meet the Mallo Family
Few families around town can say they’ve been founding businesses and giving back to the community for more than 50 years.

As owners of Splash Car Wash, Joe Mallo and his father, John, have followed an impressive family tradition.

John graduated from Kent State University in 1962 and started a Budget Rent a Car franchise in 1967. He later expanded the business to Phoenix and Tuscon, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Columbus, Ohio, but Northeast Ohio remained close to his heart.

John’s father Offie Mallo arrived in the Akron area in the early 1900s. He worked at the Akron Beacon Journal for years, building many lasting relationships. John’s father owned the original land that he founded the business on.

The family decided to diversify and expand into the car wash business in 2015 and Joe came back from Las Vegas to join the team in 2016. They have built the business to become one of the biggest and busiest operations in the state.

When the family was researching the industry and planning the scope of the buildings, they realized that most tunnels at the time were around 130 feet long. They chose to expand that to 175 feet long to offer a better-quality service. Their concept was to provide not just a car wash, but rather a car wash experience. For instance, they constructed the building with a curved polycarbonate roof to let in light and provide better air circulation. They wanted to create an open and bright feeling instead of dark and dingy.

Today, the next generation of Mallos is still working hard and innovating. Joe’s daughter, Danielle, is a social media maven who also helps out with marketing. Nephew Vince is assistant manager, crafting a next-level customer experience. Joe’s brother, JJ, is also part of the team.

Over the years, John and his sister Teresa and brother Michael, along with the whole Mallo family have been entrenched in the Akron community. They’ve been active on the chamber of commerce, sponsored sports teams, supported local schools and Boy Scouts, as well as championing causes such as breast cancer research.

They like to have fun, too. Recently for Halloween, the car wash sponsored the Spooky Car Wash, thrilling customers with spirited animatronics and entertainment.

Looking ahead, the family is already eyeing several properties in Ohio to further expand its car wash business.

Fairlawn’s Splash Car Wash is located at 130 South Cleveland Massillon Road (next to Aldi), just south of Route 18. The phone number is 330-576-3940. Green’s Splash is located at 3405 S. Arlington Road (in front of Lowe’s). Come in Mondays for $1 off any wash. The phone number is 330-536-WASH (9274). Monthly memberships are available online at SplashCarWashCo.com. Watch the site for announcement of the grand opening party for the new buildings. Hours for both locations are Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.