FOR SALE
195 N. 2nd Street.
El Cajon, CA 92021
Sale Price:
$1,999,000
Lot Size:
±19,780 SF
Building Size:
±640 SF
Year Built:
1973
ABOUT THE PROPERTY
Maher Commercial Realty presents a turnkey, full-service car wash and detailing business at 195 N 2nd St in El Cajon, California. This operational business and real estate offering provides a stable leased income stream with significant embedded upside through active management and service expansion. The property features a 640 SF service building on a large 19,780 SF (0.45-acre) commercially zoned lot, anchored by a long-term lease with CPI increases. Currently processing ~2,000 cars per month, the business benefits from recent electrical upgrades and offers a clear path to grow revenue by extending hours, optimizing pricing, and expanding the high-margin detailing service, making it ideal for both a passive investor or a hands-on operator.
This is a versatile essential-service investment that caters to both passive and active investment theses. 195 N 2nd St provides a secure, low-management entry point with a growing base rent, while also offering a clear and immediate roadmap for an operator to dramatically increase cash flow through hands-on optimization, making it a uniquely attractive asset in the San Diego market.
195 N 2nd St represents a strategic opportunity with built-in flexibility. The combination of a secure underlying lease, a large functional lot, recent capital improvements, and clear operational upside creates a compelling value proposition. Whether as a passive real estate holding or an active business acquisition, this property offers a solid foundation with multiple pathways to increased returns, making it an ideal investment for a wide range of buyers in the stable El Cajon market.
KEY POINTS
Turnkey full-service car wash & detailing business on a 0.45-acre lot in El Cajon.
Dual-opportunity asset: Stable leased investment ($2,048/mo + CPI) OR owner-operator business with ~$56k/mo gross revenue.
~2,000 cars/month volume at $28 average ticket with clear levers to grow.
Recently rewired electrical infrastructure; detailing service ready for expansion.
Ideal for an investor seeking flexibility—passive income or active value creation.
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS
Stable Leased Income with Active Management Upside:
Secure, Growing Base Rent: The property is leased to an operating tenant at a current rent of $2,048/month with annual CPI increases, providing a reliable and growing hands-off income stream.
Significant Operational Upside for Owner-Operator: An investor can assume operations to capture the full ~$56,000 in current monthly gross revenue (~2,000 cars/month at $28/car) and directly implement growth strategies.
Clear Revenue Enhancement Levers: Immediate opportunities to increase income by extending operating hours (planned shift to 8am-7pm) and raising flex detailing prices from $40 to the $50 market average.
Modernized Operations with Growth-Ready Foundation
Modernized Operations with Growth-Ready Foundation
Recent Critical Upgrades: The site has undergone complete electrical rewiring, making the core infrastructure "close to new" and reducing near-term capital expenditure risk for a new owner.
High-Margin Detailing Service in Growth Phase: The on-site detailing business is acknowledged as "slowly building," representing a substantial, low-capital opportunity to develop a new profit center alongside the established car wash.
Staffed & Operational Turnkey Business: The wash is fully operational, requiring 4-5 employees, facilitating a smooth transition for an owner-operator.
Prime El Cajon Location with High-Traffic Access
Key El Cajon Corridor: Strategically located on N 2nd St, a major access route serving the dense residential and commercial heart of El Cajon, ensuring consistent local traffic and visibility.
Large, Functional Lot: The 0.45-acre lot provides exceptional space for car wash queuing, vacuum stations, and detailing operations, allowing for efficient high-volume service.
Established Community Presence: An established service business in a strong San Diego East County market with a built-in customer base.
Flexible Investment for Multiple Strategies
For the Passive Investor: Acquire the real estate with a secured, credit-worthy tenant on a long-term net lease, benefiting from CPI-linked rent growth in a essential service sector.
For the Owner-Operator/Entrepreneur: Purchase the business entity to take over a cash-flowing operation with multiple identified and actionable strategies to significantly boost profitability through operational tweaks and service expansion.
Substantial Commercial Lot Value: The commercially zoned lot size offers long-term redevelopment optionality, providing a valuable land-bank safety net beneath the active business.
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