A long-vacant building and property along I-94 in southwest Michigan will finally be repurposed.
The former Former 5 O’Clock Sports Bar and Restaurant at 5000 Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville is slated to become the home of a Drive & Shine Car Wash and Oil Change, a representative from the Drive & Shine confirmed Wednesday.
Drive & Shine is based in Granger, Ind., and operates about a dozen locations across Michiana. The company describes itself as a “car care center,” with locations offering interior cleaning and full detail service.
The closest current location is in Niles. The building has been unoccupied since May 2015, with Drive & Shine owner purchasing the building in 2017.
“Drive & Shine is happy to announce we will building a new location in Stevensville, pending approvals,” said Drive & Shine VP of Marketing Sherry Tehrani, via email. “It will look like the Niles location, and will include a long car wash tunnel, express oil change, indoor vacuum building and outdoor vacuums.”
While there is no timetable for construction to begin, Tehrani said the hope is for permits to be approved sometime this year.
According to Lincoln Township Building Official Jim Pfeifer, the Drive & Shine has not yet submitted plans to the township. He added the car wash will need a special use permit, but does not anticipate any trouble once plans are submitted.
Once construction begins, the first step will be to demolish the former restaurant building, which has since become overgrown and derelict.
Prior to 5 O’Clock, the restaurant operated as Win Schuler’s for years.
By Ryan Yuenger
ryany@wsjm.com
