Champion Car Wash Of Northport Closes

NORTHPORT, NY — Champion Car Wash of Northport has closed, the business confirmed to Patch. The car wash was at 402 Fort Salonga Road.

The lease on the car wash expired, Dave Steckel, media liaison for the MTA, which owns the property, told Patch. The MTA is issuing a request for proposals for a new tenant for the property, Steckel said.

Patti Gosman said it was nice seeing the same faces every time she went, as she believes the same family ran it for about 20 years.

"From the people behind the register to the guys who prepped and dried off your car to Albert who remembered all the things about your car every time," Gosman said. "They were part of the community, hard working and honest. It is so sad not to have them running the business anymore. We will miss them."

Margaret Fanelli-Granger said she was a regular customer at Champion Car Wash from the time it opened. She said the original owner, Mike, was a "terrific guy" she enjoyed speaking with.

"It was a huge loss when he passed a few years back," she said. "Albert, the manager, is an awesome guy who picked up the reins and did a terrific job running the car wash. He is a huge lover of animals and I always enjoyed listening to what particular animal he found in distress, and had rescued. Nicole, Mike’s wife, is terrific and they were by far the best car wash in the area. I am super fussy about my cars. I was a monthly pass holder and was at the car wash 2-3 times per week. They always did a beautiful job washing, drying and cleaning my car. I am struggling to find a car wash that does a comparable job. I will miss them tremendously!"

Denise Curci Schwartz, an East Northport resident, said the car wash was "so convenient" for people in the area.

"They did a great job and I’m sorry they closed," Curci Schwartz said. "That being said — it worries me that the MTA owns that property with all the talk about the 'freight yard.'"

Steckel said "there is no freight yard in the area."