by Jill Nagy
Premium Velocity Auto LLC has purchased nine Jiffy Lube franchises that were part of the the Hoffman Car Wash chain. The sale closed Dec. 15.
This is the first venture into New York state for the purchaser, which operates 55 Jiffy Lube franchises in 10 other states.
The car wash chain decided to get out of the Jiffy Lube business and concentrate on expanding the car wash side of thingss, according to owner Tom Hoffman Jr. His last new Jiffy Lube franchise opened in 2004. Meanwhile, other companies were aggressively expanding their Jiffy Lube portfolios.
Hoffman recently opened a 23rd car wash in Yorkville, a suburb of Utica. Plans for 2022 include outlets in Rome, Gloversville, Cohoes, and Queensbury. When Hoffman opens a new car wash in Oneonta, they will be joined by a Premium Velocity Jiffy Lube franchise.
The newly purchased Jiffy Lube franchises “fit our network,” said Don Hill, president of Premium Velocity. The new owner purchased all of the assets of the Hoffman Car Wash Jiffy Lube outlets and plans to continue operating all of them. Seven of the nine franchises are in buildings owned by Hoffman. The new owners will lease the buildings from Hoffman.
“So, we are now landlords,” Hoffman said.
All 145 employees will keep their jobs and benefits.
Hoffman said customers will not notice much of a change in service.
Hoffman is pleased his former employees stay with the Jiffy Lube outlets. He termed it the “silver lining” of the ownership change. They will be working for a larger company, actively expanding, including in New York state. Hill also pointed to added opportunities for the employees as his company expands its holdings.
Both Hoffman and Hill reported that, like nearly everyone else, they are having trouble finding qualified employees. He said the company had to raise pay rates to keep their outlets adequately staffed.
Hill has headed Premium Velocity Auto since April 1. Before that, he was a national accounts manager for Shell Oil Co., which owns Jiffy Lube.
Neither party was willing to disclose the terms of the sale.