Our story

About us

Our story

The Bear is on the move!

Phil Degeratto, owner of Buddy Bear Car Wash, comes from a family of entrepreneurs. His grandfather, known as “Papa Bear” by locals and friends, was the owner of Big Bear Foods Supermarket in the 60’s. Later, Phil’s father opened up his own food center called Buddy Bear. And today, Phil continues the legacy & name with Buddy Bear Car Wash!

Phil opened the first Buddy Bear Carwash on Pulaski & Washington over 40 years ago. Today he has 15 car wash locations across the Chicagoland area, with new locations coming in Lyons, Chicago Heights, Chicago Ridge, Midlothian, and Markham!

The Buddy Bear Legacy

  Phil is very proud to be the 3rd Generation Degeratto to run a business under the Buddy Bear brand, an establishment that has provided jobs for families of it’s communities. Under his management, Buddy Bear Car Wash has reached many new neighborhoods, Now averaging two new car wash facilities per year.   

 

Our vision

When we support each other, the community thrives. 

The mission

Phil is actively engaged with all of his carwashes, striving to provide the best customer service possible. He’s someone you can talk to, relate to, shake hands with. Buddy Bear has always been about the community. All employees are local community members. And with every new location that opens, the first 10,000 cars always wash free!

Buddy Bear Car Wash is minority owned and operated. Our company is MBE certified by the City of Chicago, Cook County and the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

                 

See you at the car wash!

Locations

  • 1059 Mannheim Rd.
  • 6201 W. Ogden Ave.
  • 1901 W. Cermak Rd.
  • 4936 W. North Ave
  • 3940 W. Washington Blvd.
  • 4130 S. Western Ave.
  • 818 S. Cicero Ave.
  • 1045 W. 95th St.
  • 1538 E. 95th St.
  • 7068 S. South Chicago
  • 8644 S. Kedzie Ave.
  • 4750 S Archer Ave
  • 382 Torrence Ave.
  • 1209 S 1st Ave.

See All locations

 

State of the art car wash technology

Benefits of having a buddy bear car wash in your neighborhood.

  • $5.5 to $6 Million Development
  • 100 Construction Jobs Inclusion of Minority Contractors
  • We Hire Local Service Providers

Let’s work together

Thank you for your support!
“People who care wash at Buddy Bear”

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