Gate Petroleum to Debut New Car-Wash Venture This Spring

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gate Petroleum Co. is preparing to take the wraps off of its Gate Express Carwash venture.

The Jacksonville-based retailer has acquired six sites for the initial push into the stand-alone car wash market. Another 11 sites are in various stages of review. Gate owns some of the sites, some could be bought imminently and others are under contract or a letter of intent, spokeswoman Misty Skipper told the Daily Record.

Gate Express Carwash will debut in late spring or summer with two locations. One is in Southwest Jacksonville at Interstate 295 and Collins Road, and the other is in St. Johns County at Nocatee Parkway and Davis Park Drive, the news outlet reported.

The retailer features car washes at many of its convenience store locations; however, the new design is for stand-alone developments. Both of the initial sites are near Gate convenience stores and gas stations.

The other properties in the initial push include three in Duval County and another in St. Johns County.

Skipper told the news outlet that permits are in process for the first two stores, while a zoning variance is sought for another location. She declined to say how much the private company expects to invest in each car wash.

Gate executive Hill Peyton is leading the car wash development as other express-wash competitors prepare to enter the market.

In another step, BFC Property Holdings Inc. registered its fictitious name with the state for Gate Express Carwash. BFC is based at Gate's corporate headquarters at 9540 San Jose Blvd., according to the Daily Record. 

Skipper said BFC, which stands for "Better, Faster, Cheaper," is Gate's wholly owned subsidiary for the car washes.

Gate operates and supplies fuel for nearly 200 locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.