Geo Wash Franchise Partners with Zipcar, to Make Gotham Debut at Chelsea Piers

By the end of next month, Manhattan will boast New York City’s first Geo Wash franchise at the Chelsea Piers parking garage. Marc Martilotta- one of three partners in the fledgling operation- saw Geo Wash during a trip to Costa Rica last year and bought the rights to a New York state franchise back in September. Geo Wash requires less than one quarter of a gallon of water to wash a car; conventional car washes can use upwards of ninety gallons. The Geo Wash cart (see image) is manned by one worker and completes a wash in 30 minutes. It includes 100 percent biodegradable cleaning supplies, two water storage devices, a hose and pistol nozzle, a low pressure electronic pump, and its own power supply. Geo Wash carts are already operating in over 30 countries and are designed to operate wherever cars are parked; Martilotta and his partners have also leased space in a parking lot at a mall on Long Island. The Manhattan incarnation of the franchise will team with Zipcar and eventually offer a Geo Wash at each Zipcar Manhattan parking garage. Martilotta tells Crain’s that a wash will cost between $18 and $20.

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