GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — Oilex Operating L.L.C. has struck a deal with Grease Monkey franchisor FullSpeed Automotive to take over seven corporate-owned Grease Monkey stores in Arizona and Colorado.
With the agreement, Grease Monkey franchisee Oilex owns 23 Grease Monkey locations, making it the brand's largest franchisee group. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Oilex President Ron Morrow Jr. has a family history as a Grease Monkey franchisee. His father was once the largest franchisee of the brand, according to FullSpeed.
After selling his stores to the corporation, Morrow continued working for Grease Monkey as vice president of retail operations.
In 2021, he bought his own location in Fort Collins, Colo., and in June 2023, Morrow, along with other partners, invested in additional Grease Monkey locations, becoming the brand's largest franchisee group with stores in Colorado and Arizona.
"I've grown up around the Grease Monkey business and have been presented the opportunity to both continue what my father started years ago and help build the brand that our family holds a steep belief in," Ron Morrow Jr. said.
"The quick-lube industry is consistently growing at a rapid pace. Oilex Operating L.L.C. is thrilled to be a part of Grease Monkey and participate in the progressive growth."
He said Oilex plans to continue to expand in Colorado, Arizona and Utah.
There are 900-plus franchised and company-owned locations under the Grease Monkey, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service and Kwik Kar brands, Fullspeed Automotive said.
There are more than 500 Grease Monkey auto centers in the U.S., China, Colombia, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.