Tommy’s Express Car Wash, a Michigan-based chain that has been on a growth spurt in recent years, is bringing that growth to Bowling Green with its first Kentucky location.

Already with 171 locations across 36 states, Tommy’s has begun site work on the 1.87-acre tract at 2920 Scottsville Road that had been home to Logan’s Roadhouse before that restaurant closed in 2020.

Plans call for Tommy’s to invest $2.3 million for contractor Christianson Companies of North Dakota to build a 5,724-square-foot car wash on the property where Logan’s once served steaks and its signature free buckets of peanuts.

The Bowling Green Logan’s fell victim to the downsizing and eventual bankruptcy of then-parent company CraftWorks Holdings. Now part of Nashville-based SPB Hospitality, Logan’s emerged from bankruptcy and now operates about 135 locations, down from its peak of 256 restaurants in 2016.

Tommy’s, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction.

Carrie Caldwell, communications manager for Tommy’s, said the chain is averaging 1.4 openings per week and plans to have 185 car washes operating by the end of the year.

“The Bowling Green location will be the first in Kentucky and is expected to open in the summer of 2024,” Caldwell said in an email. “Openings happen around five months after steel is delivered for the building, and that is scheduled for December.”

Founded as Quality Car Wash in 1969 by brothers Julius and Jacob Essenburg in Holland, Michigan, the business later became known as Tommy’s in recognition of Jacob Essenburg’s son and company President Tom Essenburg.

Now headed by president and CEO Ryan Essenburg, Tommy’s has branched out far beyond Michigan and has been recognized for its rapid growth.

Tommy’s was named in 2021 to the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list as one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country.

The company is riding a wave of growth in the car wash industry. The U.S. car wash services market size was estimated at $15.21 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% from 2023 to 2030.

That growth is evident in Bowling Green, already home to such local and national brands as Cheetah Clean, Zips, Waterworks, Fast Freddy’s and Soap My Ride.

According to Caldwell, Tommy’s has plans to continue its growth in Kentucky, other states, and beyond.

“We have more than 400 (locations) in the pipeline,” she said, “including locations in Europe and Canada.”