Quick Quack Car Wash Properties Sell for $5.2M

The express car wash sector continues to demonstrate robust investor appetite, evidenced by the recent sale of two newly constructed Quick Quack Car Wash facilities in Southern California for a combined $5.22 million. These transactions highlight the enduring appeal of single-tenant, net-lease retail assets, particularly those anchored by operators with strong unit economics and expansion plans.

The Hesperia location, situated at 15601 Main Street, commanded a price of $2,565,000. The buyer was identified as a private investor from Los Angeles utilizing a 1031 exchange to acquire the asset. This strategic move underscores the ongoing demand for like-kind exchanges within the real estate investment community, seeking to defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting proceeds into similar properties.

Complementing the Hesperia deal, the San Bernardino property at 297 East Hospitality Lane achieved a sale price of $2,655,000. This facility was acquired by a seasoned 1031 exchange investor based in California's Central Valley. This investor is a repeat acquirer, having previously secured a Dutch Bros drive-thru in El Cajon in December 2025, signaling confidence in the quick-service and convenience retail segments.

Both 3,596-square-foot facilities operate under long-term, 20-year absolute triple-net ground leases, a structure highly favored by net-lease investors due to its minimal landlord responsibilities. The Hesperia site benefits from its position along a key retail corridor with direct access to Interstate 15, while the San Bernardino location boasts a prime hard-corner, signalized intersection with substantial daily traffic counts exceeding 55,000 vehicles, further enhanced by visibility from Interstate 10.

Industry experts note that express car washes are among the most profitable tenants in the net-lease space, often reporting profit margins between 50% and 60%. This financial strength, coupled with Quick Quack Car Wash's extensive operational footprint—now exceeding 300 locations across multiple Western and Southwestern states—makes its properties highly desirable. The company's growth trajectory was further bolstered in 2024 when KKR invested in an $850 million minority stake, signaling significant institutional backing.

These sales were facilitated by Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, with Executive Vice President Bill Asher and Executive Vice President and Partner Jeff Lefko representing both the sellers and the buyers in these transactions. Hanley Investment Group has been particularly active in the car wash investment arena, having closed over $485 million in car wash-occupied investments over the past five years and completing seven Quick Quack sales in California within the last 17 months alone.