Insights

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), signed in 1970,requires state and local agencies to evaluate and disclose potentially significant environmental impacts of proposed projects and to enforce mitigation when feasible. Over time, its broad scope has allowed lawsuits or even the threat of litigation to delay or halt developments, especially infill housing in urban areas.

In a world where consumers want everything faster, retailers are racing to optimize the last mile, and the hub-and-spoke model has become their secret weapon. From auto parts to groceries to ghost kitchens, today’s most forward-thinking brands are reimagining real estate as infrastructure, not just retail.

Is the express car wash industry dying or going through growing pains? In this article we will discuss recent events with larger operators classifying the Suds & Duds in the space. (“Suds” is a play on the word Studs, “Duds” is self-explanatory.) At the latter half of this article, we dive into the Whistle Express acquisition of Drive Brands.

Zips Car Wash, a major player in the U.S. car wash industry, faced financial challenges that led to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on February 5, 2025. The company cited rising interest rates, higher labor costs, and increased competition as key factors, with about 900 new car wash sites opening annually in recent years, intensifying market pressures Zips Car Wash files for bankruptcy to cut $279 million in debt.

All has not been rainbows and butterflies for Mister Car Wash in the equity markets. While it still is one of the darlings in the space, Wall Street has not been too kind to the share price.

Generally, a Landlord is going to ask for some sort of guarantee whether you have three or thirty locations. If you’re a Tenant, it’s probably safe to say that you don’t jump out of bed excited to guarantee a Lease. The good news is, there are several alternatives to a blanket personal guarantee, and there are ways to limit personal liability.