National Pride Car Wash, 2416 Broad River Road: 2014 14 comments
I noticed this summer that the self-service car wash more or less across from the old Blockbuster is up for sale. I have not been by for a month or so, but at the time it appeared the place would stay in operation until sold.
I don't find much information about the place online, but back in 2003, the USC football team did a charity event there.
UPDATE 23 April 2019 -- Well, this place apparently did not sell for a long time, and stayed open for years after this post. Commenter Andrew reports it has now been torn down, which does not surprise me, as the last time I drove by it was cordoned off with tape barricades and something was apparently about to happen. I took some drive-by shots, which aren't great, but so it goes:
UPDATE 15 March 2022 -- The place has now been razed:
UPDATE 23 March 2023 -- Something is being built on the lot:
UPDATE 29 January 2024 -- Now Cars & Beyond:
(Also took the "for sale" note out of post title).
14 Responses to 'National Pride Car Wash, 2416 Broad River Road: 2014'
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Rick
15 Sep 14 at 6:12 pm
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In order for me to utilize a car wash, it'd have to have one of those systems where you drive in, the machinery has at you car for a few minutes and then you drive out...(along the lines of what Circle K has at most of their gas stations)
I read though in my car's owner manual that it's best to avoid car washes that use a high pressure rinse exceeding 1200 psi and to avoid sops using petroleum-based ingredients as those types of things aren't best for the car's paint job and I find myself wondering how some of the car washes out there are within those parameters.
Andrew
15 Sep 14 at 7:00 pm
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@Rick (or J. Wellington Wimpy) - sorry my 'extra' hundred grand is tied up in tied up in an account for my retirement. I will, however, loan you enough for an Edna's double burger, fries and onion rings...lol. My only trepidation about owning a car wash of this type is vandalism. You know some a**hole is going to jimmy open the cash boxes, rip off the hoses or some such crap as that. Unless you have some righteous surveillance equipment to catch the b*stards in action you are going to spend your profits on maintenance.
Homer
16 Sep 14 at 1:43 am
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@Andrew - I don't put much stock in factory recommendations for auto cleaning. I have not hand waxed a vehicle of mine since 1997. I rely on the spray on wax from either the 'professional' or drive thru car washes. The only problem I have with the high pressure washers is that they all push water in around my convertible top. I just take a towel with me to catch it as it comes in. Water still beads up and rolls off of the finish and the paint shines like new money.
Homer
16 Sep 14 at 1:51 am
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Homer - Wimpy would be happy with your offer of burger and fries. I'm slightly surprised you caught on to my pay you Tuesday line because I really do not think many people would catch that.
Rick
16 Sep 14 at 12:37 pm
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I watched my share of Popeye cartoons as a kid (and later in life as well)....LOL
Homer
16 Sep 14 at 8:12 pm
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At one point, in E.C Segar's original "Thimble Theater" comic strip (eventually retitled "Popeye" after the one-eyed sailor stole the show), J. Wellington Wimpy was actually more popular than the sailorman and had many famous catchphrases, not all of which made it into the cartoons: (on being identified as part of some mischief) "I'm afraid you must be mistaken, I'm one of the Jones boys", "Let's you and him fight", "Please join me at my house for a duck dinner -- You bring the duck", and of course, "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today".
Segar's groundbreaking work is, I believe, all back in print, but if you just want the peak, "Plunder Island" is perhaps the greatest Popeye story ever told:
ted
16 Sep 14 at 10:11 pm
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Homer
16 Sep 14 at 11:41 pm
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Yep, the "Pleasant weather, isn't it, we're having" is another Wimpy catchphrase, and the resolution about him being absolutely shameless about hornswoggling his marks is pure Wimpy as well.
ted
16 Sep 14 at 11:45 pm
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I remember one scene from a Popeye cartoon that I always thought was funny. I think it was 'Sinbad the Sailor'. The gang was on an island and a duck popped out of a hole or something and Wimpy pulls a hand grinder out of his pocket and spends the rest of the cartoon following the duck around trying to turn into duckburger. I always thought that was a kick. I also have some of the WWII Popeye cartoons that are very, can we say, politically incorrect.
Homer
16 Sep 14 at 11:52 pm
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Yes, Popeye The Sailor Meets Sinbad The Sailor, Popeye The Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves and Popeye -- Aladdin And His Wonderful Lamp were all Technicolor "two reelers" (the normal Fleischer Popeye shorts were one reelers and in black and white), with the first two regarded as classics while the third is mearly quite good. The Fleischer's had perfected the art of including real 3d props with the animation, an effect you can see most clearly while Popeye is in Sinbad's treasure cave ("What this place needs is an entrance what you can go out of..").
Wimpy's memorable duck chase is in Sinbad. Wimpy is also in Ali Baba though he doesn't have any business that is as funny there.
ted
17 Sep 14 at 12:04 am
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Oh man, they are on Youtube? I'm gonna be snatching a copy of those!!!!
Homer
17 Sep 14 at 12:13 am
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Folks, this building has been torn down (for what next remains to be seen)...
Andrew
19 Apr 19 at 9:40 pm
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Folks the First Citizens Bank that used to be at this interesction has been torn down (it hasn't featured here (to my knowledge))...
Andrew
8 Oct 22 at 2:15 pm
I've thought about a quarter car wash from time to time. Even looking up the equipment required on the web. If one had the property to put a car wash on with no mortgage, maybe it would be a nice way to make a dollar without having to be there 8 to 10 hours a day. I have an additional 12 acres not being used but my location is 3 blocks off of Garners Ferry Road. Hey Homer, how about loan me a 100 grand, I'll gladly pay you back on Tuesday.