Grease Monkey hits milestone on path to 1,000 locations

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — The Grease Monkey quick-lube franchise brand reached a milestone recently with opening of the brand's 700th outlet, a five-bay store in Garden Grove.

The Jan. 26 opening, by first-time franchisee and single mom Dana Leitner, ties into the brand's strategic goal of having 1,000 outlets in operation by 2023.

"I'm humbled and honored to be a part of such a major brand milestone," Leitner, an entrepreneur who brings 14-plus years of real-estate sales experience to this venture, said.

"When seeking my next entrepreneurial venture, I was immediately attracted to the low cost of entry with a model that invites customer loyalty and repeat revenue," Leitner said, adding that Grease Monkey's "world-class" training and support made her decision a "no-brainer."

"The aftermarket auto care industry is booming," she said. "There's never been a more opportune investment."

Leitner said she plans to open additional locations over the next several years.

Leitner's franchise deal is one of the quickest to go from signed agreement to opening in brand history, according to Grease Monkey.

The 3,150-square-foot outlet in Garden Grove formerly was a Meineke/Econo-Lube-n-Tune location. Garden Grove is a city of 170,000 residents in Orange County, west of Long Beach and south of Anaheim.

As part of the grand-opening ceremonies, Grease Monkey and Leitner donated $2,500 to Bracken's Kitchen as sponsorship to feed 700 people in need.

Leitner's deal was one of 51 franchise agreements that Fullspeed Automotive's Grease Monkey and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service franchise brands awarded in 2021.

In addition to franchising new outlets, FullSpeed is planning to acquire as many as 150 quick-lube shops by year-end, bringing it closer to the goal of 1,000 units by 2023.

"Reaching this significant growth milestone is cause for celebration," FullSpeed CEO Kevin Kormondy said.

"It is an exciting way to start the year, opening the doors for our rapid growth plans ahead. We've built an incredible culture and want to celebrate this achievement with those who have helped us throughout our journey."

According to the 2020 Franchise Disclosure Documents, the top 50% of Grease Monkey's franchised stores generate $1.05 million revenue annually, while the top 50% of SpeeDee Oil Change's franchised stores generate $1.38 million.

According to information provided by FullSpeed last year, Grease Monkey franchisees operate 2.7 outlets on average.

With more cars on the road, more miles driven, and the average age of cars growing to 13-plus years, FullSpeed Automotive said it is well-poised for the future.

In 2022, the company will focus on driving business by improving brand consistency and quality perceptions, in turn, driving customer satisfaction and franchisee revenue.