Randolph Car Wash: Lincoln, NE

Founded in 1967, Randolph Car Wash was a beloved Lincoln Nebraska business for forty years until its closure in 2018. Located in downtown Lincoln just off of U.S. Route 34, the low-rise mid-century building and its technicolor sign is typical of small-scale roadside businesses along America’s western highways.

In the 1970s Lincoln’s city government invested heavily in revitalizing the downtown. As in many cities, Lincoln’s urban renewal program led to the destruction of historic buildings and a corresponding increase in automobile traffic. Nevertheless, businesses that served the car culture, like Randolph Carwash, benefitted.

In 2018, the Randolph family sold the property. The building was demolished in 2019 to make room for an apartment complex.