MILES The Auto Spa was launched in 2007, in the Cool Springs area, on Bakers Bridge Ave and founded by Miles Johnson (The name MILES is about what you put on your car, not named for Johnson, but an interesting play on the word) in 2006. Johnson had been in the wireless telecom business for 17 years, and headed the launch of the Cricket Wireless brand in Nashville, in January 2000. But he’d always had a desire to be in an automotive related business. He loves all things cars.
The MILES Concept
The concept for MILES was to stand out in the industry, and in particular the Middle Tennessee area, by creating a luxury experience in an industry that is anything but. He contracted with locally renowned architect Seab Tuck to create a one of a kind facility. The facility has a coffee bar inside called Octane, and sells locally roasted coffee by Bongo Java. It also has music, leather seating, flat screen TV’s, a Wi-Fi bar and you can even enjoy a cold beer while you wait. And then there’s Retail Therapy, a hip ladies boutique in the lobby, owned by Michelle Roberson, who markets ladies clothing, purses, jewelry and home goods to the female customers of MILES. Who doesn’t like to show off a purse from the carwash?
MILES Growth
In 2010, Johnson was reunited with Rocky Crossland, whom he’d hired to build over 20 retail wireless stores in Houston, TX for the launch of a large wireless carrier in 1996. Crossland also joined Johnson in 1999 as well to help oversee the launch of Cricket in Nashville and beyond, and eventually became the CEO of another wireless startup in Ohio. After a few years of being away from the Nashville area, Crossland’s family returned and a business partnership was born when he offered to take over the daily operation of MILES when Johnson announced he was relocating to Austin, TX where his wife Diane was pursuing an executive career in real estate. Rocky oversees the daily operation of MILES The Auto Spa, while Johnson manages the marketing, media and finance.
MILES has seen double digit growth in each of the successive years since opening they wash over 100,000 cars annually, and are considered a high volume carwash in the industry.
The Future of MILES
In September 2015, they purchased AutoWash Express, which for nearly 20 years, had also operated in the Cool Springs area. Formerly competitors, now the new MILES Express brand will compliment MILES Auto Spa. Learn more about that here.
In addition to wash services, MILES offers a variety of other car care services including full detailing, scratch removal, and even interior sterilization. Customers can also purchase custom wheels for their vehicle. MILES can even customize your home’s garage with flooring, cabinets, work benches and organization tools. They even seal your home’s driveways. Anything related to cars – how clean they are, how cool they look and even where you drive them up to your custom garage.
MILES Express Coming to Cool Springs
