Andrea Sehremelis: Owning and Operating Gas Stations and Express Car Washes
By Andy Sehremelis · October 29, 2026
Andrea "Andy" Sehremelis has built, owned and operated gas stations and express car washes in Southern California. Known professionally as Andy Sehremelis, he founded Parkcrest Construction in Chino in 1992 and serves as President and CEO of AGS Fueling & Automotive, which owns and operates auto care and express car wash businesses. That operating experience shapes how he evaluates fuel and automotive service properties.
Andrea Sehremelis on the Owner-Operator Perspective
A developer's responsibility for a property can end when construction is complete. For an owner-operator, completion marks the beginning of daily accountability. Staffing, equipment maintenance, store merchandising, site cleanliness and customer service all fall to the owner once a gas station or express car wash opens.
That accountability changes how sites are planned. Decisions that appear minor on a drawing, such as the radius of a driveway, the location of a vacuum area or the spacing of fuel dispensers, become recurring operating issues if they are not resolved before construction.
Andrea Sehremelis on Gas Station Operations
A modern gas station typically combines several lines of business: fuel sales, a convenience store and, in many cases, car wash services. Each line has its own margin structure, staffing requirement and equipment needs. Successful operation depends on managing them together so that customers move through the property efficiently.
Convenience store layout, payment options and product selection influence how much a customer spends beyond fuel. Lighting, signage and site maintenance influence whether that customer returns. These factors are as important to the performance of the property as its location.
Andrea Sehremelis on Express Car Wash Operations
The express car wash format depends on throughput and consistency. Customers expect a predictable wash, a short wait and a straightforward payment process. Queue design, tunnel equipment, water reclamation and vacuum areas must work together, and the site must accommodate peak periods without blocking access to adjacent uses.
Owning and operating express car washes provides direct insight into equipment reliability, maintenance planning and staffing. That knowledge informs the design and construction of subsequent locations.
Andrea Sehremelis on Combining Construction and Operation
Because Parkcrest Construction has delivered gas station and express car wash buildings and AGS has operated them, the two sides of the business inform each other. Construction decisions are evaluated by their effect on daily operation, and operating experience is fed back into construction methods.
Andrea Sehremelis and Delphi Energy
As CEO of Delphi Energy, Andy Sehremelis follows the broader energy landscape, including the future of gasoline and the development of alternative energy. An operator's view of that subject begins with the customer: most drivers purchase energy as a routine transaction and expect convenience, reliability and fair pricing. Fuel and convenience retail formats will continue to adapt as consumer needs change, and operating experience provides a practical basis for following that change.