HOLLAND – Tommy’s Express, a national subsidiary of Quality Car Wash, broke new ground on its new head office in Holland.

The project will consolidate the operations of several existing locations for Tommy’s Express and Tommy Car Wash Systems into a single 100,000 square foot office and 200,000 square foot warehouse.

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“The building design is intended to show our franchise partners and our employees that they are at the center of our business,” said Alex Lemmen, CEO of Tommy’s Express. “

The expansion of Waverly Road and M-40 will create hundreds of new jobs over the next three years, the company said.

“Given the recent growth in our operations, we view the head office expansion as an ongoing commitment to the valued members of our team,” said Ryan Essenburg, President of Tommy’s Express.

The first phase of the project, including the warehouse and production / manufacturing facilities, will take approximately 12-18 months. The company hopes to pave the way for the second phase in 2022.

Quality Car Wash began its 50 year history at 523 W. 17th St. in Holland under the ownership of Julius “Sonny” Essenburg and his brother, Jacob.

Jacob’s granddaughter and Ryan Essenburg’s sister, Mandi Brower, now runs the business, which will continue to be headquartered on Lakewood Boulevard in Holland Township.

Tommy Car Wash Systems was started in the 1990s to supply equipment across the country and around the world. Tommy’s Express was established four years ago when Brower and Essenburg combined equipment from Tommy Car Wash Systems with the concept of Quality Car Wash. The franchise has more than 50 locations across the country.

Although Tommy’s Express uses the same equipment and layout as Quality Car Wash, the brand name remains the same along the lake. Quality has grown on its own over the past two years, opening a new location in Grand Haven and exploring other locations in Holland Township.

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The company has received special use authorization of the Holland Township Planning Commission in January to demolish the old Burger King at 187 N. River Ave. and redevelop the site with an 11,800 square foot building that houses exterior and interior car wash systems.

The completed facility will replace the company’s existing cleanup operation just down the road at 243 N. River Ave. – but the gas station and convenience store will remain.

“Because the design of two interior cleaning belts is new to Tommy Car Wash Systems, it will take some time for the designs,” said Brower. “It will probably be spring before we start construction there.”

Quality also purchased the former Pizza Hut property at 2352 N. Park Drive in Holland Township. A special use request has been made to the Planning Commission for a vehicle wash facility with details similar to the plan on River Avenue.

The committee will discuss the request at its 7 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, August 3.

– Contact journalist Cassandra Lybrink at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram @BizHolland.