Dive Brief:
- Dash In has opened its first North Carolina c-store with a car wash, the company announced last week.
- The site in Graham, about 24 miles east of Greensboro, opened on Oct. 5 and features an in-bay automatic Splash In Eco Car Wash, which washes cars while they’re parked in a stall.
- This is the second store in Dash In’s long-awaited expansion into the Tarheel State. The first, in Concord, opened in June.
Dive Insight:
Dash In has a significant runway ahead in the Carolinas, with the company confirming roughly a year ago that it was under contract to spend $143 million to acquire 16 sites in North Carolina and South Carolina.
In October 2023, Wills Group President and CEO Julian B. “Blackie” Wills said in an interview with C-Store Dive that the Carolinas were a big part of the company’s plan to triple its store count by 2030. He emphasized the region’s proximity to Dash In’s footprint across Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, as well as its growing population.
By bringing Splash In into the mix with its second location in North Carolina, Dash In is now leveraging car washes’ ability to bolster loyalty as the company seeks to build its reputation in the Carolinas. The retailer offered free car washes on the location’s opening day, according to the announcement.
Dash In will also rely on its expansive food and beverage program to stand out at a site that has a Sheetz across the street. Dash In’s Fresh Eats menu includes craft burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pizzas and more.
