TRICKS OF THE Parking lot loot! Does anyone rent out parking lot space to windshield repair or other service/ vendors? If yes, how much do you charge monthly? Thanks. CARWASHBG Timely question as I’m talking to someone later about putting a food truck on site. That would pay maybe $400 a month. MAC <strong>SSCWN</strong> EDITOR CHIMES IN: Food trucks are making a killing. According to smallbizgenius.net, there are over 24,000 active food trucks in the United States and the food truck market size in 2020 surpassed 1.2 billion dollars. Experts predict the food truck industry will see a growth of 2.4% for 2021. Other ways to use empty lot space for a profit include: a Christmas tree lot, a pop-up fireworks stand, a pumpkin patch, boat and RV storage, or you can think way, way, way outside of the box, like Jack Anthony, CEO of 7 Flags Car Wash did back in 2001. Anthony said that one of the best things he ever did with one of his self serve bays at one of his car washes in California, was to use a bay as a flower shop. From the Fall 2001 issue of Self Serve Car Wash News: Then there’s the Magic Carwash in Manahawkin, New Jersey, which used to turn one of its self serve bays into a drive-thru flu shot clinic. This took place prior to flu season. And, while it was set up as a community service and didn’t bring in any additional profits to the car wash, it was a good deed which garnered positive media attention. The car wash discontinued the flu-shot bays when chain pharmacies such as CVS, Rite-Aid and even grocery stores started offering flu shots to the masses. FROM THE SPRING 2008 ISSUE OF <strong>SSCWN</strong>: The wash I’m buying is on a street with 26,000 vehicles per day. There is not enough room on the lot for a food truck but I could rent out a couple of spaces for windshield repair etc. Was thinking maybe $500 a month, but not sure if that’s too high. CARWASHBG People usually get $1500-2000 a month for a food truck in Austin if they supply them with water and electricity. I wouldn’t expect much from a windshield repair. I can’t imagine they would do the volume. I also wouldn’t want them soliciting customers, which I expect they would have to do to get enough business. MEP001 Would love to do a food truck, trying to configure a way that doesn’t interfere with car wash, but may not be possible. Good point about soliciting customers, wouldn’t want that. Any other ideas for who to rent lot space to? CARWASHBG For what it’s worth, several years ago I rented space to food truck and he did well until received a letter from the lawyers for the 7/11 beside me with a copy of an agreement from the county and the 7/11 which said that no food can be sold within 500 yards of the 7/11 property line. TOM THUMB Make sure to check your insurance policy to see if you’d be covered for any incidents involving a renter. May need extra liability which is cheap or the renter likely needs to provide proof of coverage. KRAMERWV Are you setting a certain amount of hours/days for the truck to be there, or did they come to you with that already in mind? And are you basing your price on their time on your property with the truck, or is it a flat fee you would charge? WASHNSHINE I don’t have a parking lot tenant yet, but it’s a busy street. I’d want something that pays monthly since would be easier for me. CARWASHBG Ain’t no bay high enough! I’m working with a wash right now with a major mess problem from trucks and food carts, and I need to put up height restriction pipes. Anyone have to do this and have the ideal height to keep out these vehicles and still allow all others like high-roof vans? I’d like to include RVs, but the bays are really too narrow for them to get in and wash. I’m also debating whether to hang them by chains or to attach them to the upright columns. I’ve watched trucks just drive under them. I’ve been thinking about a chain on one side and a wire with a plug on the other, so if they do get in they’ll disconnect power to the bay. MEP001 Best way is to find the type of vehicle you wish to accommodate and then look at the manufacturer’s specs. Then add 6”. You should be able to accommodate the Amazon type of vans or county people movers. RVs can become a pain if they clean out their holding tanks when you are not around. I would avoid them unless you do not mind the possible mess. ROZ Most tall sprinters are around 9 and a half feet, so maybe 10 feet max would work KRAMERWV Maybe you could run furnace screws into the bottom of the pipe so they’ll hear a screeching on their paint when they run through them. BRICKS 44 • WINTER 2022
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