Former Ches’s location in Copperas Cove demolished to make way for Lone Star Suds

By BRITTANY FHOLER 

Cove Leader-Press 

Copperas Cove will be getting a new option for car washes with the upcoming construction of Lone Star Suds at the former location of Ches’s Restaurant at 1807 E. Business 190. 

The building that formerly was Cove Rice before it became Ches’s was demolished Tuesday to make way for a new car wash facility. 

Permits for the demo were pulled in July, with the city approving the demolition to the structure built in 1984 and it required no asbestos abatement prior to doing so.

On Tuesday, a demolition crew made quick work of transforming the more than 5,800 square foot building into a pile of rubble.

Zach Davis, one of the managing partners behind Lone Star Suds, said that construction will begin shortly and estimated the car wash opening during the first quarter of 2021. 

The car wash will offer a monthly plan for washes, free vacuums and will have what Davis calls “the latest and greatest technology” in car washes. 

Lone Star Suds will be family-owned and operated. Davis is joined in business by his brothers and stepfather. 

Davis has a background in car wash media management via WashMore Media and looks forward to working with his family.

“[It’s] a very tightknit group, so it’s not to going to have a big corporate type feel,” Davis said. “It’ll definitely be family owned and really pay attention to people, customers and the community for sure. We definitely want to serve the community and do good things around so that’s kind of our goals with that.”

Davis said they selected Copperas Cove as their location to build in after doing market research on the best area. 

“We feel like there’s an opportunity to bring a new car wash to the area,” Davis said. 

Choosing the location on East Business 190 had to do with the other car wash competition and traffic count as drivers drive through town. 

“It seems like a real friendly town,” Davis said. “There’s definitely some growth there and so we want to provide something with the latest and greatest technology. A really good car wash experience that’s friendly, gets you in, gets you out really quick and just take care of everybody around there.”

Once construction is finished, they will be hiring locally, Davis said. 

“We’re excited to provide, during a time of COVID, some additional jobs in the area. It’s a big deal,” Davis said. 

He added that he and his family are very excited about the business.

“With the family owned aspect, we can just kind of do some additional things that corporate carwashes can’t do,” Davis said. “It’s a little closer to the chest when you’re not dealing with hundreds of franchises and you just have one.”

Davis said that the business’ Facebook page will be up and running shortly under the name “Lone Star Suds”, and the business’ website will be live soon as well at www.lonestarsudstx.com.