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Clark Street Car Wash Known for Fake Palm Trees to be Demolished

By Benjamin Woodard | April 24, 2014 7:52am
 The Super Spray Car Wash on Clark Street is known for its palm trees.
The Super Spray Car Wash on Clark Street is known for its palm trees.
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DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

EDGEWATER — Plans to demolish an old self-service car wash on Clark Street has resident Jim Campbell wondering, "What’s gonna happen to the neon palm trees?"

Campbell, who lives a block or so east of the car wash, has always used the business's recognizable pair of fake palm trees — prominently featured on busy Clark Street — as a landmark for his visitors.

"I would just say, 'Up in Edgewater, do you know the car wash with neon palm trees?'" he said. "Pretty much everyone knew what I was talking about."

Now, after 10 years in the neighborhood, Campbell might have to change his ways.

The Super Spray Car Wash at 5970 N. Clark St. will be demolished and replaced with a "state-of-the-art" facility devoted to hand washes rather than self-service washes, said Tim Czarnecki, chief of staff for Ald. Pat O'Connor (40th).

The business's owners, Thomas and Gregory Mruk, didn't return several calls requesting comment on their plans, but signs hanging from green fences that had been erected around the property say a new car wash is "coming soon."

A person with knowledge of the plans reached at the Mruks' other car wash facility, at 5450 N. Damen Ave., said the Mruks hoped to be finished with the "ground-up" remodeling in three or four months. The person wouldn't reveal his name or relation to the Mruks.

"Basically, we’re going to build a brand-new shiny car wash," he said.

But what about the fake palm trees? No one seems to know.

"They’re not really attractive," said Campbell, adding that he wouldn't necessarily miss them. "They're just not something you see very often."

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