Published 12:07 am Sunday, August 17, 2025
By Chandler Inions
SALISBURY — There is a new car wash in town but they are the ones rolling out the red carpet.
Throughout August, RipTide Car Wash is welcoming teachers to stop by for free car washes.
“We pride ourselves in community involvement,” RipTide Car Wash Marketing Director Jennifer Okray said on Thursday. 
According to Okray, getting engaged with the community it serves is a pillar of RipTide’s business model.
“We have done charity work for (Hurricane) Helene recovery,” she said. “We just like to give back and establish ourselves in the community as a positive presence. That is where the free wash for teachers comes in.”
As Okray noted, being a school teacher can be a tough profession, so every little bit can go a long way. 
Teachers take so much out of their time and themselves to set up their classroom,” Okray said. “There is not always a lot of gratitude up front. We wanted to offer them free washes for the month and so far we have had great feedback.
“We are so grateful to be able to help them and offer this service and it shows our commitment to helping hometown heroes.”
RipTide Car Wash is located at 800 East Innes Street in Salisbury at the site where one of the Sam’s Car Wash locations formerly stood. RipTide Car Wash actually took over Sam’s Concord location as well after father-son owner duo Glenn and Dwight Allen consolidated the long-time family business back to its original space on West Innes Street. 
Those are the 10th and 11th RipTide Car Wash locations in North Carolina, but the company also has sites in Virginia and will soon have five in neighboring Tennessee. 
The family-owned company, based in Raleigh, will be bringing more sites in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area online in the future.
Teachers are not the only ones able to take advantage of RipTide Car Wash’s grand opening celebration. Anyone can stop by for a free car wash between now and Aug. 25.
The company also offers veterans and law enforcement discounts.
“Come get the experience and see everything we have to offer,” Okray said.

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