Springfield businessmen buy into St. Louis-area car-wash company

Founded in 1974, D&S manufactures and sells automatic car wash equipment and products.

Foster and Templeton have been D&S distributors since 1998 through Supreme Carwash Systems. They also own 13 southwest Missouri car washes through Marshfield-based Hurricane Bay Carwash.

Foster and Templeton, along with St. Louis surgeon Dr. Steve Bander, join Jon Jansky and Larry Qualls as D&S owners. They bought their ownership stake from brothers John and Steve Tlapek for $8 million.

“We’ve got some good changes coming down the pike,” said Foster, who has helped D&S grow from 59 distributors in May to nearly 70.

Foster said they are targeting growth in the western United States and overseas, including Japan and Serbia. They hope to double the size of their distribution base within a year.

The company has distributors in all 50 states, with its six in Illinois topping the list.

D&S sells automatic car washes for $750,000 to $1.25 million. Foster said car washes typically turn a 30 percent profit.

Foster also owns Foster’s Appliance and Ken’s Appliance Center in Springfield.

Hurricane Bay carwashes are in Bolivar, Branson, Marshfield, Forsyth, Crane, Rogersville, Greenfield, Republic, Ozark, Buffalo and Ava.