Jiffy Lube, Car Wash in New York Faces Potential Landslide Threat

A Jiffy Lube and car wash service center in Bethlehem, New York, has been forced to close—for now—due to the rising risk of a potential landslide, reports The Times Union.

Located at 55 Delaware Ave, the Hoffman Car Wash and Jiffy Lube have been ordered to temporarily suspend operations while city officials monitor the land’s stability. According to the town of Bethlehem, a report issued by the town’s geotechnical engineer showed that parts of a slope within the property are “actively moving.”

Jim Potter, the town attorney, added that the slope extending under the property’s parking lot, where the car wash and Jiffy Lube are, has reached a point of instability.

“Any outside force—an earthquake, a heavy rainfall, (additional weight) at the top of the slope—could potentially push the slope into instability,” Potter said.

As such, the town made the decision in advance of an expected nor’easter. An engineering firm hired by Hoffman Car Wash told town officials that the unstable conditions of the parking lot should not impact the structure housing the car wash and Jiffy Lube.

According to Tom Hoffman Jr., the CEO of the car wash chain, the town made its decision based on data gathered by Hoffman’s engineering contractor. However, despite this, Hoffman’s engineering contractor was not of the opinion that the business should be suspended.

“The engineering firm the town has used is only referencing our own data. So our engineering firm’s opinion is we were fine to be opening, and the town’s engineering firm feels we shouldn’t be,” explained Hoffman.

Regardless, Hoffman is glad to see the town taking preemptive measures, as it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

“I actually completely understand why they’re taking this position,” Hoffman said. “You’re a town and you have health and safety and you have to listen to the experts you hire.”