The Buzz: How are Redding car washes thriving during California's drought?

Inflation is taking its toll on the economy, and California is laboring through its third year of a historic drought.

Paradoxically, the North State’s car wash industry is booming.

There are at least three new car washes coming soon to Redding. They will join what is already a crowded marketplace for vehicle washing businesses.

• SasqWash Car Wash is expected to open in November in Churn Creek MarketPlace/Save Mart center on the south side of town.
• Quick Quack Car Wash is about to start construction on two new locations in Redding, one at the former Jack in the Box restaurant on Dana Drive (a fence is around the building as it waits for the wrecking ball) and a second at Shasta View Drive and Hartnell Avenue, where Holiday Foods will anchor a center being built there.
• Quick Quack also will open a car wash in Anderson on McMurry Drive.

Professional car washes use at least 65% less water than washing your vehicle at home, and many of the businesses are outfitted with water reclamation systems, according to the Western Carwash Association.

Yes, but how will water consumption at the new Quick Quack on Dana Drive compare with the former Jack in the Box?

For an estimate, I went to the city of Redding.

Public Works supervisor Annie Hunt crunched some numbers for me by taking the average water use for a sampling of car washes around town. Cypress Street Auto Wash, for example, was one of the businesses used.

Over a three-year period, the average monthly water use for the car washes was 185 centum cubic feet (CCF) of water. A CCF is 748 gallons of water.

For Jack in the Box for the same three years it was 166 CCF.

"So something to keep in mind, those car washes, they are required to put in recycling systems, so water (doesn't) go down the sewer," Hunt said.

Bogbean, a downtown Redding staple for 31 years, closes

A downtown Redding staple for more than 30 years has closed its doors.

Bogbean Books & Music in Foundry Square on California Street shut its doors last month.

Owner Ben Bambauer on Facebook said his landlord wanted him to commit to a longer lease and he couldn’t, so he decided to close. He also mentioned how the COVID-19 pandemic had hurt his business.

"I couldn't honestly promise her a bunch of more years,” the post said in part.

As a 2005 business feature aptly put it, Bogbean was an eccentric shop that sold used items such as vinyl LPs, books, CDs, and videogames. Going in there you never knew what you might find.

Bambauer jokingly told the Record Searchlight that he decided to open his store in 1991 out of “desperation,” adding that he “taught freshman English.” He was the proverbial jack of all trades before he opened Bogbean, a lumberjack, dishwasher, olive picker, doughnut maker.

Speaking for probably many, Tammy Walker, who owns Hella Apparel next door, said the former used records and books store will be missed.

“It’s unfortunate that a community staple has closed,” she said. “None of us want to see stores close here in Foundry Square. We all support each other. We’re like a family here, so it’s like losing a member of the family.”

Walker’s store opened in March 2020, the same month the world shut down amid the pandemic. She creates and sells custom T-shirts.

She says the pandemic has taken a toll on all businesses, especially mom and pop shops like hers. That said, Walker is eager to see what business takes Bogbean’s place.

Commercial realtor Rob Middleton, who markets Foundry Square for owner Sheila Hurst, said Bogbean was a worthy part of Foundry Square for many years, and he understands Bambauer’s reasons for not committing to a longer lease.

“Ben is a great guy and had a great business there and for the community,” he said.

As for what’s to come, Middleton said they will need to make some improvements like new flooring and putting in LED lights before they seriously start marketing the space.

“Right now, one of the big things for Foundry Square is it’s got its own parking, which is becoming more valuable downtown,” Middleton said.

Stay tuned.

New restaurant coming to former Anthony’s

Peter Sengxay and his wife, Tock Mounivong, are breathing new life into the former Anthony’s Mediterranean Cuisine on Eureka Way in west Redding.

I popped in recently and spoke to Sengxay about their plans.

He told me they hope to open Phat Straw early next year.

Phat Straw will feature nam wan (a coconut-based Asian dessert drink) boba tea, espressos, cold sandwiches and possibly grab-and-go sushi. They hope to serve Chinese and Thai dishes after they put in a kitchen hood and grease trap.

Sengxay said his wife’s family owned Asian Cuisine in Weaverville before they sold the business to their partner. He said they are moving to Redding.

He likes the high-visibility location of the former Mediterranean restaurant, which is across the street from Shasta and U-Prep high schools.

“There are a lot of office buildings around us,” Sengxay said. “Parents coming to pick up their kids hopefully will park and buy a drink while they wait.”

Anthony’s closed last year. It had been on Eureka Way since July 2015. The Anthony’s Mediterranean food truck is parked next to the Greek Shack. Both businesses are owned by Amin Wahbi.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.