A second AquaSonic automated express car wash site is now identified in Jacksonville.
City utility JEA is reviewing a service availability determination request for a 1.66-acre site at 7002 Normandy Blvd. in West Jacksonville, east of Interstate 295. It is west of a Walmart Supercenter.
A 6,465-square-foot former medical building occupies the site, which is owned by a limited liability company led by Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp.
A JEA request indicates a project is being explored and not that a deal has been done.
The first area AquaSonic site that surfaced is the closed Piccadilly cafeteria at 3216 University Blvd. S. at northwest Beach and University boulevards. JEA issued a service availabilty letter Oct. 18, 2024, for the project.
The loopnet.com real estate site shows the 12,000-square-foot building, built in 1985, is available and that the structure can be removed for redevelopment of the 2.83-acre site. It is owned by a trust based in St. Augustine.
Goldstein Commercial Properties Inc. is representing the property for a ground lease.
“We are still speaking with them on the property but nothing in contract at this point,” said Barry Goldstein, president of Goldstein Commercial Properties, on Aug. 4.
Dynamic Engineering Consultants of Delray Beach is the civil engineer for the AquaSonic projects in Jacksonville.
AquaSonic says on its website that a Jacksonville location will open in 2026 but did not say where.
A new player
AquaSonic automated express car wash is a new player developing in the U.S. market, starting in Florida.
On March 18, 2025, AquaSonic Car Wash announced the groundbreaking of its first Hillsborough County location in Tampa.
On AquaSonicCarWash.com, the company said it would be AquaSonic’s second in Florida after New Port Richey. That opened June 25.
The company said it plans to open more than 15 additional locations across Florida, with sites coming soon to Jacksonville, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa.
The company website shows 10 more coming soon that, in addition to Jacksonville, are in Bradenton, Lake Worth, Miami, Ocoee, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota, St. Petersburg (two) and Temple Terrace.
“This is still just the beginning of our expansion as we introduce innovative car wash services to communities throughout Florida,” said Garrett Solomon, CEO of AquaSonic Car Wash, in the announcement.
“We’re not only building a brand; we’re reshaping the way people think about taking care of their car, and we can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on.”
Ian Rickwood, AquaSonic board chairman, said the opening was “the start of a much bigger vision.”
“Seeing AquaSonic come to life in Florida is a dream realized. We’ve seen the gaps in the car wash industry and used our insights to build something truly remarkable,” Rickwood said.
“This is just the start of a much bigger vision to provide smart, high-quality services where they’re needed most.”
AquaSonic says its car washes feature advanced, water-saving technology.
Henley Investment Management
The concept plan filed with the JEA request for the Normandy location says it is a proposed car wash for Henley Investment Management.
Henley Investment Management says on HenleyIM.com that the London and West Palm Beach investor has developed the AquaSonic brand, which it described as a “pioneering express tunnel car wash service” that uses technology to create what it says is the most “environmentally friendly, efficient and highest quality car wash” in the market.
It says it assembled a group of Florida investors to provide an initial $10 million investment for the first phase of the business.
Henley, which is raising money through a series of funds, is targeting more than 100 car washes in the U.S. by 2029, which it said would make AquaSonic one of the biggest operators in the country.
The site said AquaSonic’s car washes will offer a 140-foot tunnel wash lasting about 3 minutes.
License plate recognition technology will speed up the process for monthly unlimited wash club members, it said.
Henley says 60% to 80% of the water used in each wash will be recycled. Cleaning agents are collected to prevent them from entering water systems and each property will use “highly efficient” LED lighting.
Each site represents an investment of $8 million to $10 million, according to Perenews.com, a site for private equity real estate news.
AquaSonic says AquaSonic’s Fund 3 has limited availability remaining for accredited investors, with participation starting at $100,000. There are additional opportunities for location and market “branchise” investments at higher levels.