Mediterranean Food-themed Car Wash Takes Wichita By Storm

Dozens of fans of hummus and automated car washes gathered yesterday in northeast Wichita to celebrate the grand opening of what is being hailed as this city’s most innovative multifaceted local business. Baba Gha-Wash offers consumers an automated car wash while they enjoy their favorite Mediterranean delicacies.

Onlookers cheered as owner Steven Shadid cut a ribbon made of pita bread and opened the doors to Baba Gha-Wash’s first customer, Martin Lawrie.

“I get my lifted Chevy Silverado washed nearly every day at a regular car wash,” Lawrie said, “And I’m always sitting there thinking, ‘This would be a lot better with a gyro in my hand.’”

Shadid believes that Baba Gha-Wash’s patented multistep process will be a game-changer for local consumers. Wichitans appear to agree. The line of cars waiting to enter the new business wrapped around the block, at times blocking access to the three car washes and four Mediterranean restaurants adjacent to Baba Gha-Wash.

“None of our competitors offer anything close to this level of service,” Shadid said, beaming with pride.

The process starts at the drive-up touch screen, which offers customers a bevy of car wash and traditional Lebanese food options. They can choose anything from a Shawarma Supreme Wash to the decadent Fabulous Fattoush, which includes a complimentary trip through the Tzatziki Tornado wind tunnel.

After customers order, their car moves into Phase One of the process. In this wash bay, the car is soaked and sprayed. The jets then pause as poncho-bedecked Baba Gha-Wash employees emerge from a water-proofed window to deliver drinks and appetizers.

In the second bay, the process continues as the car is propelled forward into a second round of washing. When the jets finish their work, more employees emerge with the main course.

“You haven’t lived until you’ve licked garlic sauce off your fingers on one hand while you hold a pipin’ hot shawarma in the other and watch them jets clean that gravel dust off your hood,” Lawrie said.

If a customer picked the “Sunroof” option when ordering, the third wash bay offers free refills of soda, tzatziki, garlic sauce, and hummus from automated dispensers that descend from the ceiling.

“Them things just swoop on down. You got to hold your shawarma up there real steady, but if you do, it’s tzatziki city up in here,” Lawrie said.

One customer who identified herself only as “Karen” complained that the refill process left a mess on her front passenger seat and console.

“I like the idea, but now I’ve got to clean garlic sauce out of my gear shifter,” she said.

Shadid acknowledged that there will be hiccups in the process, but believes that the positives outweigh the negatives.

“Sure, it’s not perfect yet. But after you go through our final wash bay and see the shine that our patented olive oil-infused wax produces on your car’s paint, it will make you forget about a little bit of hummus on your hood ornament,” Shadid said.