Denver-based Gleam Car Wash announced that this week it broke ground on its second location, a 1.2-acre site in Aurora, Colorado. Gleam II, an express car wash + detail shop, will feature a 145’-long tunnel, nearly 30 self-serve vacuums, and will bring Gleam’s hugely popular vehicle detail services to the east side of town. In addition, Gleam II will feature a cool googie-esque, old-time Colfax-inspired and city-council approved 22’ monument sign that will bring a lot of character to East Colfax. Both Gleams are local and woman-owned.
The first Gleam Car Wash, located in NW Denver, is a flex-serve car wash with a detail shop providing a full range of detail services ranging from $10 bug removal to $700+ premium packages. However, unlike the original westside location, Gleam’s Aurora site will not offer the quick interior clean that Gleam I offers as both a one-off and as part of a membership subscription. Both locations will offer various exterior-only car wash monthly memberships and members will be able to wash their cars at either locale.
Gleam II, located at 15911 E. Colfax, is halfway between the 256-acre Anschutz Medical Campus 1.5 miles to its west, which employs over 21,000 people, contributes over $4.3 billion to the state’s economy annually, and serves more than 1.5 million patients, and the Aurora Sports Park 1.5 miles to its east, a 220-acre park with 12 baseball and 23 multi-use/soccer fields that host multi-state competitions at all levels. Gleam II has partnered with the hospitals on the sprawling Anschutz campus to be their preferred
detail partner provider.
Gleam I and Gleam II are unique examples of true impact-investing. Both car washes include numerous sustainability features, including energy-saving and energy-generating measures as well as intense water-conservation technology. Both, for example, will capture, treat and reuse up to 90% of the water in the tunnel, dramatically reducing the use of potable water, an increasingly scarce resource. In addition, about 20% of Gleam’s current workforce is composed of individuals with intellectual and development disabilities and the second car wash will follow suit. All of these measures are voluntary
and unsubsidized.
Gleam II financing provided by Encore Bank and developed by Turnbuckle Development. Elijah Williams Consulting serves as the Owner’s Rep and ColoCorp Builders as the contractor. Genesis Building Systems is providing the building. Sonny’s equipment is utilized in both washes. A third Gleam location is in the early stages of development.
