www.noln.

net Our 25th Year of Serving the Fast Oil Change Industry

Best Looking Lube!

The Lube Center Wins
Our Annual Contest

November 2010 n Five Dollars

2010 Best Looking Lube Contest
z First Place: The Lube Center/Auto Spa in Gambrills, MD z
M any aspects of this Maryland shop caught the attention of
our judges, enough so to be named the best looking lube
for 2010.
“I love the white pillars; they make it look like a plantation,”
one judge said.
Our judges loved the shop’s many water features that included
fountains, fish ponds and a stream.
“The outdoor fountain is a treat for customers,” one judge
gushed.
Perhaps one of the most fabulous aspects of this shop is its
landscaping. Hundreds of flowers in nearly every color of the
rainbow adorn almost every corner of the facility, a perfect ac-
cent to the facility’s aquatic features and a feature that brightens
up the lube bays inside and out (there are potted plants hanging
from the ceiling in the bay area).
The facility’s waiting room is definitely unique.
“The beautiful mural covers wall-to-wall,” one judge said. “I
almost thought that ship was really sticking out of the wall.”
The waiting room has a decided nautical theme, complete
with lights that look like they belong on a ship and an aquarium
full of beautiful fish.
As expected with any best looking lube, the shop’s bays were
spiffy and organized.
Overall, the judges agreed upon the facility’s impressiveness.
16 www.noln.net  
“It’s beautiful, clean, modern and feels like a spa, actually,”
one of the female judges wrote.
Other comments included:
“There are too many neat touches to list.”
“A beautiful facility with wonderful aesthetics — fountains,
flowers, calming streams, outdoor white benches amongst floral
arrays on rock surfaces, and a gorgeous mural in the waiting
area.”
“Simply beautiful facility.”
Part of the Maryland-based The Lube Center chain of fast
lubes, this shop is located in Gambrills, a small town just a
stone’s throw from the banks of the Chesapeake.
Of course, we didn’t stop there in our judging. Turn the page to
see the results from our 12th annual Best Looking Lube Con-
test.
About the Best Looking Lube Contest: Every year an editorial
panel of judges pores through hundreds of photographs from liter-
ally dozens of entries. Judging is based on a point system (i.e. 10
points for a first-place vote, nine for a second, etc.), and judges are
directed to rate a facility based on its outward appearance, wait-
ing area, bay area, landscaping, cleanliness, any “neat touches”
they find and overall appearance.
z second Place: Valvoline Express Care in Madison, OH z
This entry can be summed up in just one
word: cute.
“It’s beautiful,” one judge said. “So green
and pretty. I love the brick of the building
and the gorgeous green landscape with the
trees behind it.”
If the designers of this facility were going
for a homey feel, they nailed it.
“It looks like a cute little house inside and
out,” exclaimed one judge. “Plus, the wait-
ing room looks like it could be a little tyke’s
bedroom.”
One judge wrote, “Honey, I’m home...oh,
wait!”
“Wow! I love the house/fast lube con-
18 www.noln.net  
cept,” said yet another. “I bet the customers
feel right at home.”
The waiting room caught the eye of sev-
eral of our judges.
“I like the bright colors inside the tiny
waiting area,” one said. “I also like the pop-
corn maker, aquarium and gumball ma-
chine.”
“Very unique colors for an oil change fa-
cility,” another said. “The bright orange in-
side really grabs you.”
One judge might have summed up the
facility in a way few could when he said, “It
looks like an old country schoolhouse.”
z Third Place: Kwik Kar in Spring, TX z

A few words come to mind with this facility: beautiful, clean, tone brickwork, along with a large LED sign. Did you notice a spe-
posh. cial exterior touch that one of our judges did?
“This facility has a beautiful waiting room, reception area and “You can tell this is a Texas Kwik Kar by their use of stars in the
bathroom; as well as a clean, polished exterior; and a nice, orga- corners,” she said.
nized and spacious bay area,” one judge said.
“It’s ultra luxurious,” said another judge. “The tile inlays, leather
chairs and granite work all add to it. A very nice facility.”
The detailed tile work is one of the features most commented on
by the judging panel.
“I love the tile work, and the flat screen TV looks like it’s in a
photo frame.”
“The beverage area and restroom are beautifully done with tile
and marble,” said one judge who also loved the cushy black chairs
in the waiting room and the use of pleasing plants throughout the
facility.
Any customer would be happy to wait in such a posh waiting
area, and there were plenty of the judge’s comments that echoed
that sentiment:
“The countertop in the waiting area is beautiful, and I like the
color scheme that’s used throughout the interior.”
“The neat, clean bathroom is very nice. I like the indoor plants
and the wrap-around desk.”
“It looks more like a doctor’s office or a beauty salon than an au-
tomotive facility.”
“Very nice coffee station, and the waiting room feels very hom-
ey.”
The exterior is sure to catch attention from the street with its two-

20 www.noln.net  
z honorable mention: Froggy’s Auto Wash & Lube in Angels Camp, CA z
Being in California, it should be no sur-
prise this facility’s landscaping is impres-
sive, and there’s an outdoor waiting area to
enjoy sunny days.
“I love the outside cabana look with all
the flowers and nice patio furniture,” one
judge said. “I also love the roses and the
stucco building.”
“It’s a cute little facility,” another judge
said.”
“I love the waiting area outside with cute
tables, flowers, greenery and ivy,” one fe-
male judge said.
If the outdoor waiting area wasn’t enough,
there’s a cute gift shop inside (and one judge
pointed out it probably encourages custom-
ers to use the lube shop).
“I like the fact the indoor waiting room
has shopping,” said another.
This facility’s landscaping is amazing.
There are flowers and greenery everywhere
you look.
Froggy’s is not only fantastic to look at —
it has a fantastic story behind the name.
z honorable mention: Gulf Express in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia z
22 www.noln.net  
The facility is located in the “Gold Coun-
try” of California. Mark Twain lived in An-
gels Camp when he wrote the story “The
Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras
County.” Frogs have been honored ever
since, and the business received an appro-
priate name.
“I could see Mark Twain getting his oil
changed here,” one judge exclaimed!
If the name wasn’t enough, the signage
sports clever sayings like “hop on in,” one
judge noticed.
Throughout the many years of the Best looks out into the bays,” said one judge.
Looking Lube contest, no entry has trav- “Nice waiting room,” said another. “Those
eled as far to enter as this one has: Gulf Ex- chairs are begging me to sit in them.”
press in Saudi Arabia. The shop has unique As for the bay area, one judge said this:
features our judges noticed. “Those have to be the cleanest bays
“I like the architectural details and brick ever!”
accents,” one judge said. That same judge also said, “I love the tile
“I love the architecture,” said another. “It’s lining the walls of the pit.”
very bold and daring.” “I like the tile on the bay floors,” said an-
“This place is huge!” exclaimed yet another. other.
One unique aspect that impressed judges One judge summed up the bay area like
is the waiting room. this: “Very modern and impressive.”
“I love how the luxurious waiting area
z Thanks to everyone who entered this year’s Best Looking Lube Contest z

z American Lube z Kwik Kar z Valvoline Instant

Express Georgetown, TX Oil Change
Auburndale, FL z Mobil 1 Lube Express z Expressway Car Care Riverbank, CA z Grease Monkey
Everett, WA Granbury, TX Canonsburg, PA

z Kwik Kar z Kwik Kar z The Lube Center

Mansfield, TX Hudson Oaks, TX Germantown, MD
z The Lube Center z Texas Express z Oil Can Henry’s
Frederick, MD Lube & Auto Belfair, WA
Luling, TX

z The Lube Center z Mystik Service Center z Valvoline Express Care

Germantown, MD Jasper, IL Baton Rouge, LA
z The Lube Center z Kwik Kar z Valvoline Instant
York, PA McKinney, TX Oil Change
Walker, MI

z Valvoline Express Care z Lube Master z Grease Monkey

Oakdale, CA Umatilla, FL Kernersville, NC
z CITGO Fast Lube z The Lube Center z The Lube Center
Fuquay-Varina, NC Gaithersburg, MD Frederick, MD

z Oil Can Henry’s z The Lube Center z Jiffy Lube 3288

Sumner, WA Laurel, MD Grand Prairie, TX
z Castrol Premium z SpeeDee Oil Change/ z Quick Lube Plus
Lube Express Midas Calgary, Alberta
Griffin, GA Picayune, MS

z Pro-Stop z Carwash West/

Lombard, IL Castrol Premium
z The Lube Center z The Lube Center Lube Express
Columbia, MD New Freedom, PA West Monroe, LA

24 www.noln.net  
z best landscaping: Froggy’s Auto Wash & Lube in Angels Camp, CA z
This year’s landscaping was some of the
best we’ve ever seen, which means judging
it was no easy feat.
With oodles of flowers, vines and plants,
Froggy’s Auto Wash & Lube stole the top
honors. A central flower bed with fountains
and figurines was several judges’ favorite.
Beautiful roses line the walkway, and ivy
adds shade and color to the great outdoor
seating area.
“I love the roses,” one judge said. “They
are just beautiful.”
z Valvoline Instant Oil Change in Walker, MI
26 www.noln.net  
“Great landscaping, especially the vines
covering the cafe-like outdoor waiting
area,” said another.
“I just love all the frogs,” said one judge.
“It’s such a cute idea having frog statues and
fountains as decorations.”
Other facilities our judges liked (below)
had beautifully manicured lawns and flow-
ers that color-coordinated with the shop’s
motif; native trees and shrubs that outline a
shop’s entire street side; and plentiful flow-
ers outside a Maryland shop.
z Others Considered z
z
z Expressway Car Care in Granbury, TX z
z The Lube Center in Frederick, MD z
z best bay area: Lube Master in Umatilla, FL z
It should be easy to see one reason why
Lube Master’s bay stood out from the
crowd: color.
The primary-color paint job really caught
the attentions of our judges.
“I like the cool paint job on the bay floor,”
said one judge.
“Love the bays,” said another. “The check-
ered tile containment wall is a very attrac-
tive touch.”
“Very colorful pit,” said yet another.
“The brightly colored bay areas make
them easy to navigate,” one judge com-
mented.
Another bay area favored by judges (be-
low) was Kwik Kar of McKinney, Texas’
very clean bays that are appropriately
painted with colors that give helpful direc-
tional info.
The Kwik Kar in Spring, Texas, was an-
other favorite, of which judges commented,
“Bay area shows patriotism with American
and Texas flags.” Another judge said, “I like
the yellow accent walls and the glass doors,
they help the facility flow. Plus, everything
is spotless.”
Valvoline Express Care in Oakdale, Cali-
fornia was also considered for the honor. “It
looks clean, efficient and professional,” one
judge mentioned.
“Immaculate bays,” said another.
“The diamond plate details on everything
are really cool,” said yet another.

z Others Considered z

z Kwik Kar in McKinney, TX z z Valvoline Express Care in Oakdale, CA z

z Expressway Car Care in Granbury, TX z

28 www.noln.net  
z best waiting area: Carwash West/Castrol Premium Lube Express in West Monroe, LA z

If past years’ results are any indication of

what our judges like, the best waiting room
should be no surprise. Our judges are fond
of checkerboard floors, and the waiting
room at Carwash West/Castrol Premium
Lube Express has just that.
“I love the black and white tile floor,” one
judge said, “and those bar stools are right
from the ’50s.”
Of course, the judges love more about
this waiting room than just its floors.
“I love the old malt shop look and espres-
so bar with sweets,” one judge commented.
Other judges agreed:
“Nice touch in adding the ’50s diner to
the lube shop.”
“I love the waiting room. It feels like you
just stepped into the movie ‘Grease.’”
“Love the espresso bar waiting area. It’s
like ’50s diner meets Starbucks.”
Our judges also like the waiting room at
Kwik Kar; some mentioned how open and
spacious it was with a vaulted ceiling, while
others liked the “nice little gift shop.”
The judges were also impressed with the
waiting room at Expressway Car Care.
Our judges loved the rustic look of the
waiting area, from the rock wall to the faux
brick to the rustic furniture. One judge par-
ticularly liked the rough wood trim and the
antler mirror.

z Others Considered z

z Expressway Car Care in Granbury, TX z

z Kwik Kar in Georgetown, TX z z Quick Lube Plus in Calgary, Alberta z

November 2010 29
z best “neat touches”: Texas Express Lube & Auto in Luling, TX z
There were too many neat touches to list
in this year’s contest, but the rustic feel of
Texas Express Lube & Auto took the cake
in this category.
“Very rustic, hill country look,” one judge
said. “I like the cedar posts and rough wood
siding in the bays. It gives them a down-
home ‘barn’ feel; like you’ve pulled into a
neighbor’s barn to get your oil changed.”
The “hill country look” continues with
the waiting area and exterior of the build-
ing. (What facility named Texas Express
Lube would be complete without a giant
Texas star accenting the building?)
The waiting room features tin wainscot-
ing and rustic furniture (accented with the
ever-fitting Texas star.) If you look closely,
you’ll notice the walls of the waiting room
z Gulf Express in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia z
30 www.noln.net  
are covered in cattle brands, as local ranch- ersburg, Maryland caught the eye of more
ers are encouraged to bring in their brand- than one judge — a tasteful addition to any
ing irons and leave their mark. waiting room if you ask us! S
“It reminds me of an old western saloon,”
one judge said of the facility.
Another said, “It looks like an actual
ranch; very cool.”
“Texas Express Lube looks like it should
be in no other place but Texas. Very nice
job,” added another judge.
Other “neat touches” noted by our judges
were the graffiti accents at Gulf Express (if
you look closely you’ll see someone else
thought they were “cool” too!), and the
“cool and comfy” massage chairs in the
waiting room of Pro-Stop .
Last, but not least, a VehicleMD in the
magazine rack of The Lube Center in Gaith-
z Others Considered z
z The Lube Center in Gaithersburg, MD z
z Pro-Stop in Lombard, IL z