Newest Champion Xpress Car Wash Opens on Knickerbocker

SAN ANGELO, TX —Jeffery Wagner, CEO of Champion Xpress Car Wash, was on hand for the opening of their newest location at the intersection of Knickerbocker Road and Parkview.

The “soft” opening was to give Wagner and the managers the opportunity to make sure everything was in good working order prior to what’s sure to be a busy weekend.

The Knickerbocker location is the third Champion Xpress for San Angelo. The location at 2704 N. Bryant has been up and running since 2016.  The location on Sherwood Way, just west of H.E.B., is set to open in about 60 days.  Combined, between 35 and 40 employees will be hired to work the three locations. 12 to 15 employees will work at the Knickerbocker location.

Wagner stated that “wages start at eight dollars an hour, and there is an automatic bump in pay after 90 days.”

Joe Escamilla is the new manager, transplanted from Roswell, New Mexico, for both the Knickerbocker location and the Sherwood Way location.

Three assistant managers will help Escamilla at the two locations. All other employees are part-time.

“We have flexible schedules and we’re able to work with students who want to work part-time, even during school breaks. We’ve worked with students in every community we’re in,” said Wagner.

“Escamilla is living proof of the value Champion Xpress places on our employees.”

“I started as a Customer Service Attendant about two and a half years ago,” said Escamilla, and now I’m manager of two stores.”

He credits Champion Xpress for giving him the opportunity.

Wagner also talked about the valuable role the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce played in Xpress coming to the community.

“The Chamber gave us the kick-start in helping us establish good relationships with other businesses in town. Now we’re connected to San Angelo businesses that will become our vendors. Electricians, landscapers—our goal is to buy local and support the rest of the business community.”

“In fact, we were offered the use of Chamber facilities for interviewing.”

Wagner stated that there were no incentives offered from the City of San Angelo to make the move.

I was especially interested in knowing how the Knickerbocker location was chosen, considering that Champion Express is within sight of Gentle Touch Car Wash located on Parkview.

“We made the best business decision for us. We’re located at a busy intersection with stoplights, and on this lot we were able to have two entrances to the car wash, one from Knickerbocker and one from Parkview,” said Wagner.

“We’re not here to hurt anyone else’s business. In fact, the services they offer [Gentle Touch Car Wash] are different from ours.”

“We don’t do interior cleaning or detailing, although customers can bring their products to our location to do their own detailing, or buy some of our products.”

“Any of our customers looking for that we’ll be happy to send them over.”

On Thursday, January 11, all military and first responders get a free car wash.

Check the Champion Express Car Wash website at champxpress.com for hours, and pricing.