Automotive in Grandview

For the full-service Triple Shine wash at Grandview Auto Wash, automatic coupe cleansers buff and polish sullied exteriors before a vacuum-wielding hominid sweeps through the inside. Crusty cars cruise through the shower, where eco-friendly suds shimmy across wheels, windows, underbodies, and hood gargoyles, removing unsightly soils. Expunged exteriors shine like a bronze statue of a socialite's dog after a clear-coat protectant and triple clear-coat polish. Finally, a car concierge wraps wet wagons with a terry-cloth embrace until they are cozy and dry, then hops inside to wipe down consoles, swab windows, and quietly propose new bumper-sticker slogans.

Although Sallas Auto Repair began as a small, two-bay repair shop, owner and ASE-certified master technician Nick Sallas already had enough experience to fill a multifloor garage. Nick's journey through the automotive industry led him through the service centers of General Motors and Honda and included a 10-year ascension up Goodyear's training programs. He opened Sallas Auto Repair in 1993, fusing his experience with his passion for repairing vehicles and saving customers money. More than 20 years later, he and his wife have expanded the small garage into two AAA-approved facilities stocked with 15 service bays and 15 skilled and certified employees.

The staff at both Sallas Auto Repair locations perform bumper to bumper services, including oil changes, preventative maintenance, and most all repairs. Services and repairs in the authorized Napa Auto Care Centers are backed with 24-month and 24,000-mile warranties. During repairs guests relax in waiting rooms stocked with computer stations and free WiFi or take advantage of complimentary rides home should their car beg to spend the night. Sallas’ commitment to cars is rivaled only by its commitment to the community; the shop has supported numerous organizations ranging from the US military to local athletic programs.

After treating your tires to a game of musical chairs (during which each tire will be checked for leaks, damage, and stowaways), Rob Sight's technicians will run a rigorous test on every component of your vehicle's brake system down to its friction material, rotors, drums, hoses, and connection points ($24.95 for tire rotation and brake inspection). Dual- or rear-wheel vehicles cost extra. Next, they'll conduct a charge system test ($34.95) on the alternator, starter draw, and battery. After a thorough multipoint inspection and an exterior car wash, your chariot will shimmer its way off the lot looking fresh as a genetically engineered super-creature with dangerously soulful eyes.

NuShine Auto Wash’s state-of-the-art wash tunnel is the product of 30 years of car-wash-building experience. As cars switch into neutral and roll through the tunnel, smatterings of triple-foam polish and clear-coat protectant brighten up their finish, undercarriage blasts whittle down lower-level road grit, and Black Magic tire shine grooms each wheel. Shiny vehicles emerge after just five minutes, ready and eager for motorists to detox crumbs from their interiors with help from the free high-powered central vacuum system, which has no time limits or special dietary constraints. For further filth purging, NuShine also operates a special self-service mechanical mat cleaner, which both washes and dries dingy floor rests for just $1 a piece.

A cave stands near the entrance of Aqua Auto Spa. Cars approach slowly, their drivers peering into its dark recesses. Inside, soft cloths burnish vehicle exteriors in a matter of minutes, making them as a shiny as the sun’s mouthful of braces. All washes come with free use of the self-serve vacuums, plus complimentary glass cleaner, wipe-down towels, and dash dusters. Nearby, an industrial washing basin brims with towels, brushes, and grooming shears. Here, dog owners can lather pups’ fur with canine shampoo or style it into a handsome pompadour.

Brookside's shopping district is a pedestrian paradise teeming with eclectic shops and enticing restaurants touched with old-world charm. A vine-ripened splash of Taurino Salice Salentino from Berbiglia ($13.97/bottle), when combined with a set of Clean Undies tea lights from 5B & Co. Candlemakers ($8.50 for 10), makes for a romantic dinner and renders washing machines useless. The award-winning Avenues Bistro reels in diners with elegant eats such as the lobster ravioli speckled with succulent Maine lobster in a pool of sherry-laced tomato-cream sauce ($21). Picking up where time machines left off, The (New) Dime Store resurrects nostalgic nuggets such as Valomilk candy and Shrinky Dinks, and also traffics in functional housewares, hardware, and deeds to future properties on Neptune. Customers can also use their gift certificate toward services such as a private Pilates session at Pure Pilates ($65).