Holland, MI – Tommy’s Express Car Wash, a national leading car wash franchise, and Tommy Car Wash Systems, the brand’s equipment supplier, are honored to announce it’s been named one of West Michigan’s ‘Best and Brightest Companies to Work For’ for the second consecutive year.  

The honor recognizes Tommy’s for its commitment to fostering a positive work environment and supporting its employees’ personal and professional growth. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work for Awards is presented by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), and winners are selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of various factors, including employee engagement, workplace culture, and employee benefits.  

“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of West Michigan’s best and brightest companies to work for, for the second year in a row,” said CEO Alex Lemmen. “This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team members, who are the driving force behind our success. We are committed to providing our employees with a positive and supportive work environment that allows them to thrive both personally and professionally.” 

Tommy’s Express and Tommy Car Wash Systems offer a wide range of employee benefits, including competitive salaries, comprehensive health and wellness programs, and ongoing opportunities for professional development. The company also fosters a culture of collaboration and teamwork, encouraging employees to work together to achieve common goals. 

“We believe that happy and engaged employees are the key to our success as a company,” said Alex Lemmen, CEO. “We are committed to investing in our employees’ well-being and creating a culture that fosters growth, collaboration, and innovation.” 

Tommy’s new company headquarters is being built off M-40 in Holland. This new HQ will consolidate operations from several existing locations into a single 75,000-square-foot office and 2000,000+ square-foot warehouse space.  

About Tommy’s Express 

Tommy’s Express is a fast-growing national car wash franchise built around the Totally Tommy site model originally developed by Tommy Car Wash Systems. Franchise locations are closely supported with exclusive training, marketing, and technical assistance and enjoy access to proprietary, franchise-exclusive developments in wash products and technology. Tommy’s Express is featured on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list as not only #1 in the car wash category but also on the list of Fastest Growing Franchises. 

About Tommy Car Wash Systems 

Tommy Car Wash Systems is built on over 50 years of car wash operations experience. Tommy Car Wash Systems is a team of passionate car wash professionals working to create opportunities for our partners to become the best car wash operators they can be. Headquartered in West Michigan, the company provides modular building designs, robust stainless steel car wash equipment, an advanced Wash Club license plate reader system, the Tommy Transporter belt, high-performance wash detergents, and an industry-lead franchise opportunity. 

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Welcome to TommyClub! We’re excited that you downloaded our app and love your ride as much as we love washing it. Are you looking for a way to update your TommyClub account?   

You can always manage all your account details right inside the app. It’s easy to access to all things account-related. 

Currently, the app is the single point of entry to log in to your account. We do not offer a login through our website. But you never know what’s to come!  

Using the Tommy’s Express app

You can view and manage all your memberships and subscriptions on the Tommy’s Express Car Wash app. 

After downloading and opening the app, you’ll see a prompt for you to either login or sign up. From here, you’ll be able to log in to Tommy’s Express and your TommyClub account. Next: 

1. Enter the email address associated with your account.
2. The app will recognize your email and send a 5-digit code to your email and your phone.
3. Enter the code into the app.

And just like that, all access for Tommy’s Express Car Wash app is at your fingertips!

If you already have the Tommy’s Express app, make sure to keep it updated to experience our most recent releases and features. We’re always making improvements and updates. Stay tuned! 

If you ever have any questions about your account, visit our help section on our website to see the frequently asked questions and answers. If you can’t find your answer online, feel free to reach out to our amazing Guest Services team. Or ask a team member at one of our locations near you.  

We’re always happy to help! 

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Before the 2021-2022 school year, employees at the Tommy’s Express headquarters volunteered with Hand2Hand by packing lunches for students across West Michigan.  

These lunch kits provide food for over 8,300 West Michigan students, but Hand2Hand operates differently than many food programs. The food is placed directly into the hands of the students who need it. 

Over 105,000 kids in West Michigan receive free and reduced lunch at school five days a week. But what about the weekend? That’s where Hand2Hand comes in. Hand2Hand wants to eliminate that 68-hour weekend gap so that every kid can leave school for the weekend without worrying about where they will get their next meal. 

Hand2Hand delivers nutritious food to students over the weekends and on extended school breaks by mobilizing churches, schools, individuals, and businesses to join together, providing hope and opportunity to thrive. 

How does Hand2Hand operate?

A backpack of food is placed discreetly into a student’s locker for them to take home. To protect the students’ privacy, the volunteers who distribute the food never know the names of the kids they are helping, only which locker number to place the food in.   

“Hand2Hand makes a difference in the lives of our students daily. Knowing their basic needs are being met gives them peace of mind.” 

 -An elementary teacher 

Hand2Hand currently serves students ages 3-18 in 40 school districts and 256 schools across West Michigan. 

Serving West Michigan Communities

As local community members, we wanted to focus our efforts right here in the communities we serve. Tommy’s Express team members were able to pack 3,000 lunch kits in a single day.  
 
Many of our team members have young children and understand the importance of organizations like Hand2Hand that help children thrive. The enthusiasm and excitement from the team (as well as the competitive spirit of who can pack their group’s quota the fastest) was a highlight of the day. Everyone was thrilled to participate and to be a part of an organization that encourages these acts of service as part of the workday. 

We strive to enrich lives, add value, and serve communities at Tommy’s Express. This makes partnering with an organization like Hand2Hand an easy choice. We are so grateful for organizations like Hand2Hand that saw a need and found a way to help kids.  

“My favorite part of working with Hand2Hand was knowing that we were able to make a difference in the lives of over 3,000 students in our community. As someone who grew up receiving free lunches at school, I know the importance of organizations like these.” 

– Tommy’s Express Employee 

Want to get involved?

Help to eliminate childhood hunger in your community. There are several ways you can volunteer to help eliminate weekend hunger for children in West Michigan. 

 Visit h2hkids.org for financial and volunteer support, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn by searching for @h2hfeedkids.  

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It’s happening. Your garage is already a little cramped fitting two cars, but now the kids are growing up, and they’re eyeing your vehicles and starting to want their own. 

The thought of having to maintain more cars can be stressful. They’ll all need oil changes, gas, tire replacements, and of course, car washes. 

So why not let TommyClub take some stress off your shoulders? 

Guests often ask if we offer multiple-vehicle memberships, and we do offer a multiple-vehicle discount with our exclusive Family Plan. 

Just to be clear: Every car that goes through the wash must have its own membership. The unlimited plans apply to each individual car (since we scan your license plate and read your make and model), so it’s not possible to share one unlimited plan with multiple cars. However, we do offer the Family Plan as a thank-you for washing with us! 

A membership plan that’s right for you

If you’re juggling multiple cars and want to save on your subscriptions, look no further than the TommyClub Family Plan! 

Each membership after your second vehicle will receive a $5 discount. 

Again, it is essential to note that each vehicle will have its own individual monthly wash membership, which will be renewed automatically each month. Because of this, if you receive or purchase a code for a free or discounted first month, that code is good for only one vehicle of your choosing and is not valid for the entire account. 

However, you can still have multiple vehicles on one account. 

And even better, you can choose to have all memberships on the same credit card, making payments simple and easy. 

By using My Garage on the Tommy’s Express app, you’re able to add and manage your vehicles and their separate memberships, as well as monitor their payment plans and billing dates. To add a new vehicle to My Garage: 

1. Tap the navigation lines in the top right-hand corner.
2. Tap My Garage.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap the “+” button that says Add Another Car?
4. If you haven’t yet added any vehicles, tap the “+” button below the empty garage.
5. Fill out the vehicle information form entirely. Make sure your license plate is accurate!
6. Tap Next.
7. Select the Unlimited or PayPerWash plan you’d like, and tap Next.
8. Review and complete your purchase.

Car wash discounts have never been this rewarding!

Consolidate business billing for company fleets

Do you manage a company fleet for your business? Tommy’s Express offers the option to consolidate your individual car wash plans into one single source for billing for your finance department.

Our fleet program also offers discounted volume wash prices to businesses and organizations with multiple vehicles. The more the fleet washes, the more you save! 

Visit your favorite Tommy’s Express for a fresh, professional look for your company fleet and your garage at home.  

For additional support with your fleet or Family Plan, feel free to reach out to us on Facebook or visit our FAQ section.

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One of our guests’ favorite services at Tommy’s Express is joining TommyClub.  

Why?  

Because it lets them wash exactly how they want. 

Once you download our app and complete your registration, you are officially a TommyClub member. Welcome! We’re glad you’re here. 

Next, it’s up to each guest to decide what type of TommyClub car wash membership they want to have.  

The great debate: Unlimited vs. PayPerWash

Some guests prefer an Unlimited TommyClub membership.

They love to roll through the wash on their daily work commute, after a dusty day on some back roads, or at the end of a long road trip. There’s something so refreshing about a car wash and getting extra clean after being on the road. 

The best part? Unlimited really means unlimited. There’s no cap on how many times guests can wash per week or per month. Wash around your area at any Tommy’s Express location. 

On the other hand, PayPerWash users really love the flexibility of only paying for each wash. Once they link their card in the app, they can set it and forget it. The license plate readers in the app lane scan their vehicle, approve the wash, and they’re off and running. It’s contactless payments at its finest! 

Every wash package can choose Unlimited or PayPerWash

Everyone has a favorite Tommy’s Express car wash package. It really is all about how each guest wants to wash. 

Our car wash menu includes QUALITY, SUPER, ULTIMATE, or WORKS packages. The easiest way to manage your membership is inside our app. With every option, you can choose either an Unlimited or PayPerWash car wash membership.  

The WORKS is our top wash package. For car lovers, we always recommend the WORKS to keep your vehicle clean, shiny, and looking its best. The more you wash with the WORKS, the better it protects your car investment. Think of it as preventative maintenance.  

We want to make it as easy as possible for guests to wash exactly how they want. It’s up to you! 

Tommy’s Express prices vary by each site and can be found on our locations page. Find your favorite and check out their car wash menu. 

Join TommyClub today for the best car washing experience! 

For full details on each wash package, read our terms and conditions. Unlimited memberships are for personal vehicles only. Our fleet program is available for single-source billing for businesses.

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Talking about green business practices is one thing. 

Putting them into action is another. 

At Tommy’s Express, we’re dedicated to being a force for good in the communities we serve. 

For us, that means being a sustainable car wash that cares about the environment and the impact we have on the earth.  

For example, we wanted to be purposeful in the way we engineered our building and systems. Now, our innovative water reclamation processes, reverse osmosis technology, and specialized dilution rates reduce water usage and product waste.  

We’re committed to leaving a smaller impact on the earth. Read more about why it’s better to wash at Tommy’s Express versus driveway washing. 

Reducing our environmental footprint takes serious effort.  

It’s a process.   

But every little bit helps. 

Another way we’re doing our part is by switching to biodegradable plastic bags to protect rear wiper blades in the car wash.  

Plastic bags at car wash locations

Our manufacturer, Tommy Car Wash Systems, sold just under 3 million plastic bags last year.  

While we hope that our guests recycle the plastic bags after visiting our wash locations, it’s not always a guarantee.  

Other car washes might tape the rear wiper blade instead of using a plastic bag. That wasn’t a sustainable or safe option for us. 

Switching to biodegradable plastic bags helps everyone.  

Curious about the science behind how the biodegrading of our bags works? 

• A special additive makes the plastic film react to UV light and degrade.  
• After exposure to light, the film attracts microbes that further degrade the film into biomass.  

If a plastic bag falls off a car, its direct sunlight exposure forces a microbe-rich environment, and the bag should biodegrade quickly.  

More than a sustainable car wash

Serving our communities is more than just offering a car wash service.  
 
To us, it’s caring about the environment and the world we leave behind for future generations. 

This is just the start.  

There’s a spirit of innovation at the heart of Tommy’s Express.  

We’re always looking to make our products better, our processes more efficient, and our car washes the best they can be.  

Does that sound interesting to you? We’re hiring! Find a job at a local car wash, or come work for us at our corporate headquarters. 

Being an innovative modern car wash 

As part of our commitment to innovation, we’ve been working hard to design new cloths in the wash that are safe for rear wiper blades.  

Our newly redesigned cloths are safer for rear wiper blades, eliminating the need for bagging. A combination of microfleece and foam allows the cloth to clean well and be light enough to slide over vehicles easily.  

Not all locations have these new cloths yet, but we wanted you to be aware that they’re coming! As locations need replacements, they can now order the new cloths.  

Together, we can help the environment by using less plastic and making the wash safer for team members so they stop walking between cars.  

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At Tommy’s Express, we aim to be welcoming to all guests, including people who use wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers. This includes providing accessible vacuums.

After exiting the wash, many stop at our free*, easy-to-use vacuums and floor mat washers, it’s simple to make your car look as clean inside as it does outside. 

When it comes to accessibility in our lots, all locations have accessible parking spaces with a ramp. 

However, not all handicap spaces have a vacuum stall adjacent to them. 

That is problematic for people who use wheelchairs. 

You can call ahead to your nearest Tommy’s Express location to see if they have accessible vacuums. As a temporary solution, if the free vacuums* are not conducive to guests’ needs, our team members are happy to assist with our vacuums at any time.  

Accessible vacuums matter

It’s important to us to create a more accessible environment for our communities.  

We appreciate the feedback from our guests about vacuum accessibility, and we are implementing changes. Newer Tommy’s Express locations use a curbless design to allow greater access to our vacuums, floor mat washers, and detail kits. 

If you have any questions regarding our vacuums or our Tommy’s Express sites, reach out to us on Facebook or visit our FAQ section. Have you seen another accessibility area where we could make improvements? Feel free to submit feedback to our Guest Services team. We’re always looking for ways to improve! 

*At participating locations only.

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At Tommy’s Express, we strive to enrich lives, add value, and serve communities. One of the ways we achieve this goal is by partnering with nonprofits like Water Mission.  

With every single wash at Tommy’s Express, we donate to Water Mission, a clean water charity that builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in developing countries and disaster areas.  

To date, Water Mission has served more than 7 million people in 57 countries. 

Recent response efforts include:  
 

1. Deploying emergency water treatment equipment into Ukraine and assembling hygiene kits for those displaced by the conflict. Water Mission was one of the first nonprofits to produce water in multiple cities in Ukraine.     

2. After the August 2021 earthquake in Haiti, Water Mission utilized its nearly 40 safe water projects in southern Haiti to produce extra water for neighboring communities that had lost access to water. They helped ensure the uninterrupted flow of safe water for impacted communities, deployed emergency water treatment systems from their Haiti warehouse and North Charleston headquarters, and sent Water Mission engineers to help repair municipal 
   water systems.  

3. During the February 2021 arctic freeze across the state of Texas, teams restored safe water access by mobilizing skilled plumbers and providing urgently needed supplies due to water shortages and widespread power outages. 

Thanks to our incredible Tommy’s Express guests, we have positively impacted over 9,100 lives with Water Mission. That number continues to grow with each wash. 

Water conservation and Water Mission

Water Mission’s mission is to honor God by developing, implementing, and sharing best-in-class safe water solutions that transform as many lives as possible as quickly as possible.  

This pairs closely with our goal to be a sustainable car wash. 

At every Tommy’s Express location, our advanced water reclamation technology safely cleans vehicles with less than 30 gallons of fresh water per car.  

Other car washes on average, use 40+ gallons per wash, and usually, the water is not repurposed or contained, causing runoff into storm drains and natural waterways. 

Each Tommy’s Express is purposefully designed with high-efficiency water-saving equipment.  
 
We engineer our buildings to dispose of used water in a responsible manner. Everything from booster pumps and specialized nozzles to water reclamation tanks and precise detergent dilution rates contribute to a green car wash. 

About Water Mission

Water Mission is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.  
 
Since 2001, Water Mission has used innovative technology and engineering expertise to provide access to safe water for more than 7 million people in 57 countries.  
 
Water Mission has over 400 staff members working in its headquarters and around the world in permanent country programs located in Africa, Asia, North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Notably, Charity Navigator has awarded Water Mission its top four-star rating 15 years in a row, a distinction shared by only 1% of the charities rated by the organization.   

Making a difference with every green car wash

When we know better, we do better. And we can all make a difference today. 

Water Mission is a nonprofit that saw a need, had the skills, and adapted to help.  

Their website shares an impactful World Health Organization (WHO) stat: Every $1 invested in safe water yields $6.80 in economic return.

Solving the global water crisis won’t happen overnight.  
 
But step by step, wash by wash, we can make a difference.

You directly impact the global efforts every time you visit a Tommy’s Express.  
 
Thank you for washing with us.  

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In 2021, Tommy’s Express partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) on a national marketing campaign. During the month of February, for all new TommyClub members who purchased The WORKS wash, Tommy’s Express automatically donated a portion of the proceeds back to the national nonprofit organization.  

A few Tommy’s Express employees at the corporate headquarters have personal connections to the Grand Rapids, Michigan chapter of the American Heart Association.

In June of 2022, eight female Tommy’s Express employees attended the local Go Red for Women luncheon. Featuring inspiration, education, and community among women, the lunch was a call to know your heart health numbers and draw attention to heart disease.  

Go Red for Women

The American Heart Association movement Go Red for Women was launched in 2004 with the goal of raising awareness and fighting a woman’s greatest heath threat — cardiovascular disease.

Today, Go Red for Women not only advocates for the health of all women but also funds lifesaving research and educates women across the United States and around the world. It is committed to removing the unique barriers women face to experiencing better health and well-being. 

Here are three facts you need to know about women and cardiovascular disease: 
 

1. Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, and yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. 
     

2. Among females 20 years and older, nearly 45% are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, and less than 50% of women entering pregnancy in the United States have good heart health. 
     

3. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for over one-third of maternal deaths. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates. 
    

Sparking CPR education and training

The Tommy’s Express employees were inspired at the lunch. Together, they initiated annual first aid/CPR training at offices in Michigan and asked to have AEDs available at all Tommy’s Express offices and warehouses.  
 
The American Red Cross offers a variety of training and certification options, both in-person and online.  

Are you up-to-date on training? Could you help in an emergency? Shorter response times save lives. 

Do you own a business? Learn more about CPR training for your employees.  

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To answer that question, we’ll need to start back in 1969.

Sonny and Jun Essenburg started Quality Car Wash * in 1969 in Holland, Michigan.  

Car washes in the 70s and 80s were a side function of auto body repair shops, often operating in dark, cinder-block style buildings that weren’t very friendly to the public.  

And they were often unreliable, closed for repairs almost more often than they were open. 

But the Essenburgs were unique.  

They were passionate about keeping their wash open, even if it meant creating their own parts and doing their own maintenance. 

Quality Car Wash expands across West Michigan

Sonny and Jun continuously improved their wash, working tirelessly to increase the number of cars they could wash in a day.  

Their ingenuity and vision propelled Quality Car Wash to expand in the area, opening new washes across the region. Jun’s son Tom Essenburg was also instrumental in the wash expansion, inheriting the family’s passion for the car wash business. 

Their efforts did not go unnoticed.  

In the 90s, West Michigan became a destination for out-of-town visitors wanting to learn from the Essenburgs. Many were impressed by their innovative equipment, processing speed, and vision for the industry.  

Innovation continues to drive change

The spirit of innovation that started with Sonny and Jun carried throughout the family. In 2001, Tom Essenburg launched the first version of the Tommy Car Wash Systems equipment line.  

He designed the distinctive round arches that are a key part of the tunnel today and envisioned a more retail experience for car washes – something bright, open, and friendly. 

Ideas began to percolate about offering our integrated systems and proven operational excellence as a franchise. A more distinct name was needed to grow globally as a car wash brand.  

In 2016, the Tommy’s Express Car Wash franchise launched. The iconic Tommy Tunnel equipment package became available to both Tommy’s Express franchise partners and private brands across the U.S. and internationally. 

Tommy’s Express and Quality Car Wash today

Today, Ryan Essenburg, Tom’s son, is the Chief Innovation Officer and president of Tommy’s Express. Mandi Brower, Tom’s daughter, runs Quality Car Wash. Both Tommy’s Express and Quality Car Wash are supported by Tommy Car Wash Systems.  

Tommy’s Express is rapidly expanding across the U.S. and internationally. Because of its deep roots in West Michigan, Quality Car Wash remains a staple in communities across the region.  

Today, the two companies exist in synergy. For over 50 years, our family of brands has been developing car wash equipment and processes to make Tommy’s Express who we are today. Members can wash anywhere, anytime nationwide at over 120 Tommy’s Express and the Michigan Quality Car Wash locations. 

Decades of experience in the industry help propel our franchises to success. Our corporately owned stores give us the daily operations involvement alongside our partners, allowing us to learn and grow together.  

We consider it a privilege to work in an industry that serves communities.  

And we can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next 50 years. 

*2667 28th St. Quality Car Wash not included.

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