Wisconsin native Graham Murray, Champion’s Vice President of Operations for the Midwest market, has been at the Marshalltown site for two months after having owned a car wash with partners for over two years. Murray is enthusiastically positive about the new operation as it brings a fresh new look, more efficient equipment and a profound understanding of the importance of community, which includes keeping the staff from Rainbow onboard.

“Car washing is being reborn right now,” Murray said. “What I get from being here for just two months is that people really love this place. They’ve been coming here for years and years. They love people, and that’s why we kept the same staff on, to foster these established relationships. Part of our core value is community first.”

While Murray acknowledges there may be an acclimation period, he is confident that customers will be satisfied with the improvements including training for staff, upgraded equipment, renovations to the tunnel wash and the implemented use of ceramics, which improves quality care. As he puts it, “Three times the protection. Three times the shine.”

The goal for Champion is to open over 20 locations in Iowa over the next two to three years while sites across Utah, Colorado and New Mexico continue to flourish, but Murray’s primary focus is the slightly understaffed Marshalltown site.

Customers utilize new vacuum equipment during the grand opening of Champion Xpress Carwash on Thursday.

“We put the people and community before our profits,” Murray said. “We want to promote upwards within Champion.”

Having worked in hospitality as a chef for 13 years, Murray encourages job seekers, regardless of their collegiate education background, to be a part of the Champion operation.

In keeping with the theme of community first, Champion also gives back through the Blessing Board, which is a fund provided from Murray’s paychecks and placed into human resources. If an employee faces hardship, some of — or all, depending on the circumstances — the money will be donated to that person or cause.

“Sometimes an employee’s car will break down, or a loved one passes, or some other disaster or tragedy occurs. We want to give back to the community and our employees as much as possible,” he said.

With the car wash in its early stages, employees who had been working under Rainbow are also excited to continue and improve the operation. Site leader James Hall is specifically pleased with the reduced preparation time for employees and more of an emphasis on the equipment and tunnel wash itself.

The new and improved car wash tunnel was put to the test during an extremely busy grand opening at Champion Xpress Carwash.

“We will continue to push the standard that we have set from day to day until Champion is no longer Champion,” said Hall.

If the initial numbers on Thursday were any indication, Champion is well on its way to achieving that goal.

For the first two weeks, Champion will be offering all guests with free car washes with ceramic wax, which is valued at $20, or a discounted first month of Unlimited Wash Plans for only a dollar.

Guests can choose one of three local non-profit organizations to receive the one dollar donation for their visit, including Guiding Star Marshalltown, CIRSI – Central Iowa Residential Services Inc. and Animal Rescue League. In addition, the non-profit organization with the most donations from guests will receive a $500 donation.

Champion Xpress Carwash is located at 2401 South Center St. and is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. They can be contacted through their website champxpress.com, Facebook, or at the phone number 641-752-1994.

Champion Xpress Carwash completes a free tunnel wash resulting in a spotless pick-up truck at their grand opening on Thursday.

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Contact Andrew Ubben at 641-753-6611 or

aubben@timesrepublican.com.