The City of Gaithersburg has issued a $2.5 million construction permit for a new Auto Spa Express car wash planned for Fields Rd. The permit covers construction of a new 5,106 SF Auto Spa building. A timetable for construction and opening is not yet available.
The project, from WLR Automotive, received approval from the Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council in May 2025. WLR also owns The Lube Center on Fields Rd. The Auto Spa Express will be built on the property that was previously home to Ziki Japanese Steakhouse, which closed in 2020. WLR first proposed bringing a car wash to the site in 2023.
According to WLR, the property had remained vacant for several years despite efforts to attract a new restaurant or retail tenant. The company said the Auto Spa project would bring a modern design, significant landscaping and new activity to the vacant property.
As part of the plan, the existing car wash on the adjacent 10005 Fields Rd. property will be discontinued and effectively relocated approximately 100 feet to the former Ziki site. As a result, the project will not increase the overall number of car washes in the immediate area.
A joint public hearing for the project was held on March 17, 2025. The Gaithersburg Planning Commission later recommended approval, and the Mayor and City Council approved the application during its May 19, 2025 policy discussion through Resolution R-29-25.
