Recent Posts:

First Business To Give Itself Away – Car Wash And Ice Cream Combination

A Hillsdale, Michigan business may be the first operational  business to give itself away. It is a different way to look at turning the businesses over to new owners than the usual sale.                                       Victoria Burke, Partner/Owner of the Vanity Car Wash said, “Entrepreneurs or experienced business owners wanting to buy a new business have a lot of [...] Read more »

Your Choice To Not Waste Money

Customers Save Money At Vanity Car Wash

Who knew a plastic key with a computer chip could be so versatile, fun and useful? Cars are a big investment and car care is important. Victoria Burke states, “Many people still want to wash and vacuum their own cars, but the dreaded thought of racing through the process to beat the timer and make [...] Read more »

This Mercedes Could Be Yours

“Free” Keys To Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream

When it was apparent the economy wouldn’t be bouncing back anytime soon, we were determined to make something good and positive happen as we sought new owners to take over the Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream businesses. With jobs scarce, and bank financing tight there still had to be a way for us to transition [...] Read more »

Picture Downtown Court House

Visit Hillsdale County – A Rural Oasis In Michigan

Centrally located in the middle of a network of major highways, Hillsdale, Michigan is only a short drive from major cities like, Lansing, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Toledo, Ohio and Fort Wayne, Indiana. A municipal airport and a locally owned freight railroad are added connections to broad markets. Population is 7,695. Lose yourself in historical locations, stay in a cozy [...] Read more »

Picture of Bays & Store

Past, Present & Future In Car Washing & Serving Ice Cream

Some days it seems like only yesterday we proudly started serving our customers at the Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream in Hillsdale, Michigan. Other days, we don’t remember the time that we weren’t washing cars and dipping ice cream. To the outsider it may look easy and always fun. Running a successful business is [...] Read more »

A Campus Devoted To Student Learning

Life-long Resident and Hillsdale College Student Shares Points of Pride

Hillsdale: It’s the People. The phrase that has become the popular slogan for Hillsdale County has more to say than visitors might consider.  Our small town of approximately 9,000 people offers more to its citizens than other cities could fathom.  Here, it really is all about the people. A large percentage of local businesses are family-owned [...] Read more »

Picture of old ice cream/hotdog business

BUILDING CAR WASH & ICE CREAM STORE COMBO

Building Vanity Car Wash #2 and Ice Cream Too Prior to the property purchase, all three of us were in the car going somewhere. Tom and I were discussing the potential new car wash project when suddenly Corey piped up from the back seat and asked if we were talking about building another car wash. [...] Read more »

Seeing The Sites On The Midway

Hillsdale County Fair Across From Vanity Car Wash

Hillsdale County Fair beginning September 25 and ending at midnight October 1, 2011. Hillsdale County Fair is the best and last county fair of the year in Michigan. Come and enjoy all types of local exhibits from home grown flowers displayed in the most beautiful & creative way imaginable to 4-H livestock, largest vegetable competition, [...] Read more »

SELECTING PROPERTY LOCATION and EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS

SELECTING PROPERTY LOCATION & EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS  This is entry #2 of our journey to build our first car wash. In 1987-88 we attended the Michigan Car Wash Association Trade Show in Novi, MI (now the Midwest Car Wash Association). We looked at a lot of equipment and asked a ton of questions and talked with various car wash owners [...] Read more »

Patrick Filling Machine

Hillsdale High School Grad Comments

                LIFE IN HILLSDALE We had the pleasure of having Patrick Martin working for us at the Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream this summer. I asked Patrick if he would share his feelings about living and going to school in Hillsdale, MI “Hillsdale has been the perfect [...] Read more »

3 of us

Owners Share All

Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream Owner Doesn’t Keep Quiet & Shares All I’m going to be sharing our family journey up the path of our goals to diversify our energy and financial plan as we believed we wanted to own a business. Just like us at one time, you have ideas, dreams and plans [...] Read more »

americanlegion

American Legion Post 53

Located in Hillsdale, Michigan, Post 53 actively provides support and services to local veterans and their families. In coordination with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs there is a van available to transport veterans to medical appointments that do not have personal transportation. Post 53 is involved in various community activities including the annual sponsorship of [...] Read more »

baylor

Greater Hillside Humane Society

GHHS is a non-profit no-kill animal shelter that receives their funding solely through donations, fundraising and adoption fees. They do not receive any county, state, or federal funding. (While you’re at it…consider taking one of their many adoptable cats or dogs home with you!) Contact Person: Rene Goshorn, Shelter Manager (517) 523-2308 Email ghhs[at]frontier[dot]com Other [...] Read more »

hospice

Hospice of Hillsdale County

Organized in August, 1983, Hospice of Hillsdale County is a non-profit independent community-based in-home care program dedicated to the care of terminal patients. The program is licensed with the Michigan Department of Community Health, and available to all patients with a limited life expectancy, regardless of age or insurance coverage, and they do not bill [...] Read more »

Exiting Automatic

About Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream

About Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream Tom and Victoria Burke designed and built the Vanity Car Wash & Ice Cream businesses located at 214 S. Broad Street in Hillsdale, Michigan in 1994. This was the second wash the Burkes built and was featured in Professional Carwashing and Detailing Magazine. Their son Corey is the [...] Read more »

Warner's Family Restaurant

Warner’s Family Restaurant

Warner’s Family Restaurant was voted Hillsdale Counties #1 County Cooking – Best Lunch & Dinner 3 Years in a row. We provide you with a pleasant, warm atmosphere with the aromas of good home cooking. The menu has a full array of tasty choices, and the service and hospitality is hard to beat. Hours of [...] Read more »

Vanity Car Wash

Vanity Car Wash

Vanity Car Wash is the best car wash in town to keep your car clean using the best products and equipment to safely do the job. With the convenience of touch-less automatic wash, and your Express Key, it is fast, safe and easy, never having to get out of your car. Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday: [...] Read more »

The Solo Tech

The “Solo” Tech

“Solo” Tech is a one man computer services company. I can provide a personal, teachable, positive service experience that may prevent you from overwhelming frustration. I can provide services to all of Hillsdale County, southern Jackson County, eastern Branch County, and part of northern Williams County, Oh. Support may be provided: • On-site • Phone [...] Read more »

Sweets For Life

Sweets For Life

Sweets For Life is a special project created between Life Challenge of Michigan and Mackinac Trading Co. Life Challenge offers a faith-based program to individuals with addictions. Every purchase supports our ministry and the business segment of Hillsdale, MI. Soon you will be able to come into our store. You will find chocolate candies, coffee, [...] Read more »

Stadium Roller Rink

Stadium Roller Rink

Stadium Roller Rink is Hillsdale County’s only roller rink. In fact, it is probably the closest in 3 counties. They offer both open public and private skate times specializing in birthday parties, school~church parties, college date nights; and, feature group rates. Stadium Roller Rink is also available as a reception hall location for your non-skating [...] Read more »