Scottsdale, Arizona- A Scottsdale strip club owner has submitted plans to open a new carwash that would be located between Skin Cabaret and SkySong.
Todd Borowsky said he plans to renovate a former Goodyear tire store southeast of Scottsdale and McDowell roads into a “high-end, boutique hand carwash” that would attract car owners and the area’s dealerships.
Borowsky said he has no plans to combine his strip club and carwash enterprises into a “bikini carwash,” the likes of which have been seen in B movies, music videos or as an attention-getter for fundraising efforts.
“The two businesses will not share employees,” Borowsky said.
A final name for the carwash has not been selected, said Borowsky, whose club, along with Babe’s Cabaret, were successful at the ballot box last year in overturning a City Council-imposed ban on lap dances.
The carwash application seeking city staff approval of the building’s exterior changes was submitted last week. The site is already zoned for automotive uses so only staff approval is needed, said project architect and former Scottsdale Councilman David Ortega.
“It’s a solid building with tall ceilings, and the intent is to utilize the bays there,” said Ortega, adding that an outdoor plaza is also included in the plans.
Borowsky said it would take about three months to convert the former Goodyear building into the carwash.
In April, Borowsky purchased the 25,914-square-foot site at 1201 N. Scottsdale Road. Only an alley separates the property from its northern neighbor, SkySong, a high-tech research center being constructed on the former Los Arcos Mall site.
SkySong is a joint venture among Scottsdale, the Arizona State University Foundation and private developers, and is touted as a key to south Scottsdale revitalization.
The high-tech research center is expected to have its first tenants move in later this year.
Borowsky’s sister, Lisa, told the Tribune last month that she is planning to run for one of three open City Council seats in the September 2008 city election.