RIP Perkins
Splash-In Car Wash Coming
Former site of Happy Seafood House is demolished.
If you’ve been through Leonardtown lately, you’ve probably noticed that the former home of Happy Seafood House, originally Perkins, has been demolished. The site, right in front of the now-closed Shoppers grocery store, will be home to a Splash-In Car Wash as soon as this summer. Concept approval was granted by the Leonardtown Planning & Zoning Board in February 2024, and final site development approval came in May. Originally a Perkins, it was subsequently home to Alice’s Restaurant, Arizona Pizza, and Rustic River. Happy Seafood House relocated to the San Souci Plaza.
It was noted that while construction could begin anytime, a use & occupancy permit would not be granted until Leonardtown’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade is completed. The upgrade is expected to complete mid-2025, providing expanded water/sewer access to properties within town limits. Undoubtedly, this will also mean other developments will move forward as Leonardtown continues to grow.
The property is owned by Kumar Ohri of NIVEA-NAGGENA INC, who also owns and operates Centre Liquors near Food Lion in Leonardtown. The Wills Group, owner of local Dash-In Food Stores locations, including the recently reopened one in Leonardtown, is the developer of the project.
Proposed layout of Splash-In Car Wash
Current access from Merchants Lane will stay. Plans show a 3900 SF car wash, 20 vacuum spaces, and 7 additional parking spaces. The site will have 18% more green space than what is currently present.
A little further south on Route 5, land has been cleared between the Citgo gas station and PNC Bank. For a while, a sign advertising Cheseldine car wash was present on the property. In June 2024 Besche Oil Company Inc, which owns the gas station next door, subdivided and sold this one acre parcel to CW Leonardtown LLC. The principal address for the LCC is 45440 Miramar Way, the same location as Cheseldine Tire & Auto, suggesting that another car wash could be in Leonardtown’s future.
