I'm giving House of Car Wash in Montclair four stars and honestly I'm being a little generous,…read moremainly because the staff was genuinely very nice and accommodating, and I want to give credit where it's due. This one's partly on me because I showed up without my key, but they were super patient and worked with me, even letting me drive my Tesla through the wash myself. They helped me figure out valet mode, didn't rush me, and were calm while I was clearly stressed trying to get everything sorted. That kind of customer service matters and it definitely saved the experience from being a total letdown.
That said, the vibe was... strange. I pulled up and genuinely thought the place was closed. It was completely empty, no cars, no staff visible, nothing. It felt like a zombie zone. I sat there confused for a minute until someone randomly appeared and waved me in. Even when I went to pay afterward, there was nobody around again, which added to the whole uneasy, deserted feeling. What was extra surprising is that it was a Tuesday special, so I expected at least some traffic. Seeing it that dead was honestly concerning, especially given how highly rated this place is on Yelp.
As for the wash itself, I paid about $50 for a wash with wax and I don't think I'd do that again. I actually watched them wash the car and didn't see anything particularly special that justified the price. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't impressive. I also tried the massage chairs out front while waiting, which cost $5 for 15 minutes, and I definitely wouldn't recommend that. Totally not worth it, especially sitting there alone in an empty lot. Overall, the staff was kind and helpful, and that's the main reason this isn't a lower rating, but the odd atmosphere, pricing, and mismatch between expectations and reality mean I probably won't be back.