WICKER PARK — On New Year's Eve, Wash Express, a popular hand car wash just north of the Milwaukee, Damen and North Avenues intersection, will be closing its doors after 23 years in Wicker Park.
"A lot of people in the neighborhood get their cars washed here and I am hoping many of them will follow us. It's not like we are moving to China," said Wash Express' owner Sam Talarico, who is relocating his car wash 1.5 miles away to Humboldt Park.
The one-story car wash at 1657 N. Milwaukee Ave. opened in 1991 and employs eight full-time workers.
A sign in the window informs customers that Wash Express' last day in Wicker Park will be Dec. 31.
The car wash plans to merge operations with Xtreme Clean Hand Car Wash, 3537 W. North Ave., Talarico said.
"When I opened here, the neighborhood was very tough, but I liked it," said Talarico, 58, who lives in Old Irving Park and decided to open his business in Wicker Park because, "rent used to be very cheap."
Rising rent, as much as nearly $6,000 each month, influenced Talarico's decision to move on, as well as the fact that the car wash building was bought by a local developer in August as part of a $5 million deal that includes several buildings and an empty lot.
LG Development is planning to demolish the car wash, along with a neighboring one-story building at 1647 N. Milwaukee Ave. that has been vacant since Mado Restaurant shuttered in 2010.
Both buildings — and an empty lot that sits between the properties — will be replaced by a 5-story, 36-unit apartment complex with retail storefronts on the ground level.
The project, which spans seven city lots, also includes the 1890s-eras Polish Alma building at 1643-45 N. Milwaukee Ave., which will be renovated and converted into retail storefronts and shared office space.
While waiting for his Chevy Silverado to get washed late Wednesday, Portage Park resident Robert Sena said that he plans to continue going to Wash Express when it moves.
Sena was living in Wicker Park in the 1990s when Wash Express opened and even after moving away, has continued to drive to Wicker Park to get his car washed.
"I will go where he goes," Sena said, pointing to Talarico before posing for a portrait with him.
Talarico said he will "miss the people" in Wicker Park as well as frequenting local restaurants for lunch, like nearby Wing Stop, Sultan's Market and Red Hen Bread, which is just a few doors away from the car wash and is also closing soon.
"You get to know people over the years. I will miss everyone but it's going to be smooth sailing. I'm excited about moving," Talarico said,
Wash Express, 1657 N. Milwaukee Ave. Ph: 773-384-2698. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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