Sunnybrook Auto Spa is always happy to see some salt on the roads during the winter, but this year, they say the sunshine will do for now.
It's true that summer is a great time for car washes, but the truth is out - the really busy season is in the winter.
Gordon LaPradd owns Sunnybrook Auto Spa on the corner of Plantation and Williamson Roads in Roanoke and admits "sometimes our winter is actually busier than the summer. It all depends on the weather."
He's of course talking about the brine and salt granules that are spread on the roads before and during a snow and ice storm. After the storm, cars span all the way around the business to wash it all off before the next winter storm arrives.
You might think the lack of heavy snow and salt trucks has driven down business. But this year's warmth has car owners rolling in for a winter wash, and employees happy to do it.
"Rather than being closed up, it keeps my employees busy and keeps the car wash up and going," says LaPradde, who was out washing vehicles with the rest of his employees.
While a good snow or two won't hurt, he admits a warm winter can often be better than one with back-to-back snows.
"If the snow just comes and the snow just melts, people come in and get the brine and salt of their cars. When it sticks around like it did the year before last, it has nowhere to go and it put a damper in the business then."
Sunnybrook's owner says they're still smiling. Even though they have more days that they wash a fewer number of cars, it all evens out in the end.
