Merrillville approves multiple special exceptions: two car washes, used-car lot and Mexican restaurant

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — The Merrillville Town Council on April 8 approved four special-exception requests from the Board of Zoning Appeals for commercial uses at or near U.S. 30 and West 80th Avenue and other corridors: two car washes, a used-car lot and a Mexican restaurant.

Drive and Shine, proposing to convert the former Old Chicago restaurant at 740 East 80th Avenue into a luxury car wash with an enclosed two-story indoor vacuum building and an attached lube center, received approval conditioned on a traffic study satisfactory to town engineering. The council voted 5 in favor with one abstention — Councilman Sean Pettit declared a conflict and abstained, stating he had a financial relationship with Drive and Shine’s billboard holdings.

Jeff Ban, principal with DVG Team (engineering and surveying), told the council the Drive and Shine project represents roughly $15 million of planned investment, including land and equipment. “The investment that is being proposed here is about $15,000,000,” Ban said. He said the facility would include indoor vacuums suitable for Northwest Indiana winters and estimated traffic at “200 to 600 per day,” with an average around 200–300 vehicles depending on weather.

Drive and Shine’s representative, Frank Otami, described the customer pricing and membership options. “It starts at about $10,” Otami said for a single wash; the company also offers unlimited-membership tiers he listed in the meeting record.

Family Express sought and received approval for an on-site car wash addition at its convenience store and fueling station. Peter Andreu, vice president of development for Family Express, described the operation as an energy-efficient, low-water-use facility with an estimated average of 40–50 cars per day at similarly sized sites. The council approved that special exception by a 6–0 roll call.

A used-car dealer petition by AJZ Merrivill LLC for the vacant Subaru dealership site at 1777 West 80th Avenue was approved 5–1; Councilwoman Haines Edwards voted no. The petitioner said the operation would hold roughly 200–220 vehicles on the 2.61-acre site and employ 10–15 workers; service bays on site would be used primarily for vehicle preparation and warranty work, not heavy engine or transmission overhauls.

Finally, a special exception to operate an El Jimador Mexican restaurant at 2225 West Lincoln Highway — a location previously used as a restaurant — was approved unanimously. John Mathewson, broker for the applicant Amador Gutierrez, said the business already operates a larger footprint in Winfield and plans limited refurbishing of the existing building to open quickly for customers.

Sheila Shine, planning and building department director, told the council the Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously recommended approval for several of the petitions and that engineering-level traffic work remains a condition for Drive and Shine.

Votes and conditions (selected): - Drive and Shine (740 E. 80th Ave) — Approved with condition of satisfactory traffic study; vote 5 in favor, 1 abstention (Councilman Pettit declared conflict of interest). - Family Express car wash (location on Broadway/101 area) — Approved, vote 6–0. - AJZ Merrivill LLC used-car lot (1777 W. 80th Ave) — Approved, vote 5–1 (Councilwoman Haines Edwards voted no). - El Jimador restaurant (2225 W. Lincoln Hwy) — Approved, vote 6–0.

Council members and staff emphasized that conditional approvals will require engineering and traffic submittals before building permits are issued. Shine and engineering staff said any required drainage, interceptors or queuing modifications would be part of the plan-review process.

All four petitions were reviewed publicly with at least one public presence from the petitioners and engineering consultants. The council asked petitioners to coordinate final engineering submittals with the town’s planning and engineering departments before construction.