Snappy’s opened Tuesday, grand opening this weekend
Brothers Matt and Landon Woodall are bringing their family’s passion for clean cars and community connection to Starke with the opening of Snappy’s Express Car Wash, a new venture that aims to stand out in an industry increasingly dominated by corporate giants.
The family-owned business, rooted in over 15 years of car wash experience, celebrated its soft opening on Tuesday, with a grand opening event planned for Saturday featuring free washes all day.
Matt Woodall said the family’s journey in the car wash industry began as franchisees of Goo-Goo Car Wash in Georgia.
“We were with Goo-Goo for about 18 years,” Matt explained. “They were one of the pioneers of express car washes.”
After Goo-Goo sold to a large corporation, the Woodalls transitioned to their own brand, Snappy’s, operating locations in Crawfordsville, Florida, and Albany, Georgia, before selling those to focus on new ventures like Starke and MacClenny, which Matt Woodall said is now in the permitting phase.
Unlike the corporate-backed car washes that Matt notes “go downhill pretty quick” after private equity buyouts, Snappy’s emphasizes a hands-on, customer-focused approach.
“We’re not looking to sell,” Matt said. “We’re building these to grow and keep them operating smoothly.”
The brothers, along with their father, aim to differentiate themselves from the “big corporate conglomerates” by adopting a community-oriented business model.
“We like to be in these smaller cities,” Matt added, highlighting their commitment to supporting local communities.
Located on U.S. 301 South, across the highway from Walmart, Snappy’s is the only express car wash in town, a contrast to larger cities where such businesses often compete across the street from one another.
The facility, which employs six staff members and operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, features modern technology, such as license plate readers, that streamlines the experience for customers with unlimited wash packages.
“That was a game-changer,” Matt said of the subscription business model, which allows customers to pull up, have their plate scanned, and drive through without touching a screen.
The road to opening wasn’t easy. Matt described a two-and-a-half-year permitting process, navigating challenges with the city and water management district.
“It’s always something,” he said, noting that smaller towns like Starke are preferable to larger markets like Gainesville, where regulations can be even more complex.
Despite these hurdles, the Woodalls said they are focused on fine-tuning their equipment during the soft opening phase to ensure a seamless customer experience by the grand opening.
Landon, Matt’s brother and co-owner, echoed the family’s commitment to quality and community.
“We’re big into giving back to the community any way we can,” he said, likening their approach to the customer service ethos of Chick-fil-A rather than a rigid corporate structure of McDonald’s.
