By ROB JONAS
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When the Hameroff family decided to open a second car wash, they didn’t want it to be another car wash. They wanted it to be grand.
That is exactly what Knockout Car Wash on Route 20 in Guilderland is: grand. Opened in September and built on a hillside across Western Avenue from Hamilton Square, the state-of-the-art facility includes a light show as cars travel through the wash and a four-story American flag.
“My husband [Richard] wanted to get the biggest American flag he could find,” said Sandra Hameroff, who also works at Knockout Car Wash. “To us, the flag symbolizes everything we’re about.”
The name Knockout Car Wash honors a unique connection to the boxing world.
“The woman who sold us the property, her name is Patty Becker,” said Hameroff. “Her father was Ben Becker, who trained Muhammad Ali for the Olympics.”
The land had sat undeveloped for years before the Hameroffs decided to place their new venture there.
“The town [of Guilderland] was very positive. They saw this was a good fit for their community,” said Sandra Hameroff. “It was a lot to make sure the grading was done properly, but we got it done.”
The Hameroffs – who also own Broadway Auto Clinic/Car Wash in Menands – didn’t want an ordinary car wash, either. They looked for the newest technology they could find, and they wanted to make certain that the machinery was made in the United States.
“The equipment is all high end, state of the art and environmentally friendly,” said Hameroff. “The nice thing is … a lot of the equipment is made in the U.S. With all of the things going on in the world, I think it’s nice to support America.”
They also wanted to give people an experience while they sit in their cars going through the car wash. They installed a lighting system inside the tunnel to make getting their vehicles cleaned fun, instead of boring.
“A lot of families bring their kids because of all the lights we have in the tunnel,” said Hameroff. “The kids love the lights. Some kids are afraid of the car wash. I haven’t seen a kid be afraid of our car wash.”
The other unique feature at Knockout Car Wash is who operates the facility. Rather than run the car wash remotely, the Hameroffs are there each day.
“We are truly family owned,” said Sandra Hameroff, who works there with Richard and their two sons, Noah and Hunter.
For more information, including how to get a free car wash as part of its grand opening celebration, visit knockoutcarwash.com.