Car wash to include old FCT building
RUSSELLVILLE The former Franklin County Times building on Highway 43, which was most recently a daycare called Kidz Korner, is undergoing some changes.
The newspaper moved to its present downtown location – No. 7 in the Byars Building, across from the courthouse — in May 2021.
JoBabies Car Wash owner Jorudi Trapp is the current owner of the building. He has plans to use it to expand his business. The car wash is currently on a smaller spot across the road on the corner of Town Hill.
“We’re going to relocate to the other side of the road and put an express car wash with free vacuums and covered canopies over the vacuums so people don’t have to be in the weather,” Trapp said of his plans for the space. “We’re going to offer memberships, but single purchases will still be an option.”
Trapp said he bought the building around 14 months ago. He hopes to have the renovation and construction complete by spring 2026.
As for the old Franklin County Times building, Trapp’s plans do not include tearing it down.
“We’re going to renovate the building,” he said. “It’ll all be one structure. We’ll raise the roof about 10 feet. There will be about 20 vacuums and multiple kiosks. Hopefully, this will make things a little faster and more convenient for everybody – just kind of dress it up a little.”
As for the current car wash location, Trapp said his plan is to operate both locations for a while. Depending on how that goes, he may explore other options for the carwash’s current property.
