Flagstop Car Wash Hires Spencer Rakes as Chief Operating Officer; Celebrates Continued Expansion of Central Virginia Footprint

Recently Named “2024 Best Car Wash of Central Virginia” by Virginia Living Magazine

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Flagstop Car Wash (“Flagstop” or the “Company”), the leading express car wash brand in Richmond, Virginia, today announced that Spencer Rakes has joined the Company as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Rakes will leverage his diverse, multi-site experience to execute on strategic initiatives aimed at providing premier guest experiences, increasing operational efficiency and seamlessly opening new stores. This addition further strengthens Flagstop’s leadership team, supporting sustained growth as the Company plans to open two more locations this summer, continuing momentum to reach over 25 units by 2025.

“We are thrilled to welcome Spencer to Flagstop,” said Jamie Nester, CEO of Flagstop. “His invaluable experience, especially within the fuel industry, is closely aligned with our commitment to our guests, and his depth of knowledge working with consumer-facing companies and management teams will be a key asset for our growing team.”

Mr. Rakes joins the team from Pilot, one of the largest operators of fuel and travel centers in North America, where he served as Vice President of Operations and spearheaded the growth and performance of over 800 locations throughout the country. He brings decades of experience working at national, multi-site businesses including Dollar General, K-Mart and Wal-Mart, and a deep understanding of synergies across industries.

“I’m excited to get started in my new role with the Flagstop team,” added Mr. Rakes. “I look forward to leveraging my experience scaling businesses to reinforce Flagstop’s commitment to the Greater Richmond community and position Flagstop for our next era of supercharged growth.”

Flagstop has been committed to bringing best-in-class car wash services to the greater Richmond area since 1981, now offering premium wash and membership services across soon to be 21 units. The Company has invested meaningful time in establishing a relationship of trust within the community since inception and has built its business around its customer-focused model. As a result of these efforts, Flagstop was recently named the “2024 Best Car Wash of Central Virginia” by Virginia Living Magazine.

Flagstop’s continued expansion and success is supported by a previous investment from Garnett Station Partners, a New York-based principal investment firm that manages over $2.3 billion of assets. Since the beginning of the partnership, Flagstop has grown its local footprint with five additional sites and has two additional locations set to open this summer.

About Flagstop Car Wash
Flagstop Car Wash was founded over 40 years ago in Chester, Virginia and is led by industry executive Jamie Nester. Flagstop is the leading express car wash platform in the greater Richmond market with 19 existing locations. The Company is fueled by a highly recognizable brand, the “RVA Wash Club,” and a multi-pronged Virginia centric growth strategy. Flagstop is well-positioned to continue to capitalize on strong industry tailwinds and its market leadership. For the latest news from Flagstop as well as more information on the company’s services, locations, and hours, please visit www.flagstopcarwash.com.

About Garnett Station Partners
Garnett Station Partners is a principal investment firm founded in 2013 by Matt Perelman and Alex Sloane that manages over $2.3 billion of assets. Garnett Station partners with experienced and entrepreneurial management teams and strategic investors to build value for its portfolio of growth platforms. The firm draws on its global relationships, operational experience and rigorous diligence process to source, underwrite and manage investments. Core sectors include consumer and business services, health and wellness, automotive, and food and beverage. Garnett Station's culture is based on the principles of entrepreneurship, collaboration, analytical rigor and accountability. For more information, please visit garnettstation.com.