Growing up in the small California town of Merced, entrepreneurs Todd Bender and Scott Wainwright discovered a passion for people and community.

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When they relocated to Las Vegas to open WOW Carwash, Community became the pillar of their operation.

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"You're connected to everybody in a small town, so when we came here, that sense of community shaped how we built WOW," said Todd Bender, Co-Founder of WOW Carwash. "Our goal has always been to be recognized as Las Vegas’ community car wash."

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The men began working together in the early 1990s as developers in California, building residential and commercial properties. The company grew, constructing several hundred homes every year.

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"We were just two brothers-in-law trying to figure out how to support ourselves," Bender remarked. "For us, it’s always been about hard work and determination."

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An unexpected encounter at a convention sparked their commitment to excellent customer service. They met a representative from Ritz-Carlton Hotels who shared the company’s motto, "We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen."

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When we came across that Ritz-Carlton philosophy, it resonated with us," Bender recalled. "It has become the foundation of how we run our business. We built an entire culture around it, which is why we refer to our customers as guests. We want to create a hospitality-like experience."

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When the economic downturn slowed the construction industry in 2008, Wainwright began exploring new business avenues and discovered the carwash industry.

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"There seems to be a leap from home building," WOW Carwash Co-Founder Scott Wainwright noted. "However, we found many parallels that aligned with our skill set and approach to serving guests. It really comes down to working with people."

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With no previous experience in the car wash business, Wainwright contacted industry leaders and connected with Harvey Miller, who had dedicated his career to the car wash industry.

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"The more we learned from him, the more we felt our experience was a good fit for this industry," Wainwright said. "He planned to open a car wash in Las Vegas and encouraged us to consider that market. We came here and found it had a familiar community feel, much like Merced."

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Miller's decision to sell one of his Vegas locations spurred Bender and Wainwright to start WOW Carwash. In 2016, they founded the company, and one year later, they opened their first location at the corner of Lake Mead and Torrey Pines.

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Since then, they have rapidly expanded to 17 locations, with the 18th set to open in August 2025. This growth underscores their commitment to providing convenient services to the residents of Las Vegas. They aim to open as many locations as necessary to serve the community.

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We believe a carwash can be more than just a place to wash cars," Bender stated. "It's about engaging our guests. It’s interesting to see how much happiness a clean car can bring to people."

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For Bender and Wainwright, the importance of community extends to the internal culture of their business. They focused on building a strong team from the start, creating an environment that supports individual growth, all centered around the principle of serving others.

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"I've heard of self-made people, but I don’t understand how that’s possible," Bender admitted. "We couldn’t have done this without our incredible team.

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“We’ve had newcomers who started as their first job," he added. "Then, within a year or two, they manage a store. It’s rewarding for us to witness that growth. We love finding ways to add value to our team."

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A pivotal moment in forming WOW’s management team was the recruitment of Hilary Woodring, who led the property management division of their California operation.

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"We needed her strong operational skills," Bender explained. "We didn’t have prior car wash experience, but with the right team, we figured it out and launched smoothly."

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From its inception, WOW Carwash has dedicated itself to supporting local causes and ingraining itself in the cultural fabric of Las Vegas. The company is the official car wash of the Vegas Golden Knights, Vegas Knight Hawks, and UNLV Athletics. It has participated in numerous community events and partnered with organizations like St. Jude, Three Square, and Spread the Word Nevada.

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"Our team is very supportive of organizations and initiatives that help those in need," Wainwright said. "We’re open to any opportunity that benefits people in our community."

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WOW Carwash operates using a unique Express Model, allowing guests to purchase a monthly subscription for unlimited washes or pay a minimal fee for a single wash.

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"For the price of a hamburger, you can wash your car daily if you choose," Bender stated. "We understand that money can be tight, so we want to offer real value."

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Each site is carefully chosen and designed to ensure customer satisfaction.

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We want to provide a positive, predictable experience," said Wainwright. "We put much thought into every aspect of the layout and architecture to ensure a fast, convenient wash."

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Additional considerations include ensuring the car wash is eco-friendly, using biodegradable cleaning products, and having a high-tech water reclamation system.

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As Las Vegas celebrates 120 years of resilience and reinvention, WOW Carwash is proud to be part of its story—a reflection of how bold ideas, when rooted in service and community, can thrive in the city of possibilities.