Small business says Miami-Dade construction project is threatening its survival
Famous Car Wash owner says road closures and detours have reduced customer traffic and revenue
Ivette Franco, Miami Times Contributor, Jun 16, 2026
For months, customers heading to Famous Car Wash in northwest Miami-Dade have had to navigate detours, barricades and side streets to reach the business.
Owner Eddie Young says many customers have simply stopped coming.
The family-owned business, which has operated in the area for more than a decade, sits along a stretch of Northwest 22nd Avenue where ongoing sewer construction has rerouted traffic and, according to the owner, reduced customer access and revenue.
For months, customers heading to Famous Car Wash in northwest Miami-Dade have had to navigate detours, barricades and side streets to reach the business.
Owner Eddie Young says many customers have simply stopped coming.
The family-owned business, which has operated in the area for more than a decade, sits along a stretch of Northwest 22nd Avenue where ongoing sewer construction has rerouted traffic and, according to the owner, reduced customer access and revenue.
The work is part of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department's Septic to Sewer Commercial Corridors General Obligation Bond Program, a $126 million initiative designed to connect more than 1,000 businesses from septic systems to the county sewer network. The project is expected to continue until next year.
"We don't get no notice," Young said during a June 10 press conference organized by The Black Collective, a Miami-based community advocacy organization. "My biggest concern is when they are going to open the street up so we can get our business back on track."
Young said daily revenue has fallen since construction intensified earlier this year.
His son, Eddie Young Jr., who helps operate the business, said the car wash previously generated between $400 and $700 per day but now averages roughly $75 to $130 daily.
The decline, he said, has affected staffing levels. "I had a staff of probably like 10 guys. I only got like four guys," Young Jr. told The Miami Times.
Young said the financial strain has made it increasingly difficult to cover operating expenses, including nearly $3,000 in monthly rent, utilities and payroll.
The car wash serves as the primary source of income for the Young family and several employees. Young said the prolonged construction has created uncertainty for workers whose livelihoods depend on the business.
The concerns have also drawn the attention of community advocates.
During the press conference, Valencia "Vee" Gunder, executive director of The Black Collective, criticized what she described as a lack of communication with business owners and residents.
"These businesses are community pillars," Gunder said. "We need these businesses here."
"This street right here has slowed us down for about six, seven months now," said Nathaniel Marks, who works at KC Food Market near the construction zone. "Everything has been slow. Business [has] been slow all the way around the board."
Northwest 22nd Avenue is one of five corridors included in the county's septic-to-sewer initiative. Lanzo Construction is performing the work.
According to the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, work between Northwest 79th Street and Northwest 90th Street includes the installation of sewer pipes and service connections, along with water line and fire hydrant upgrades.
Phase 1 of the project, which focused on water improvements, has been completed. Phase 2, involving sewer installation, is underway and expected to be completed in January 2027.
Once completed, approximately 104 commercial properties along the corridor will be able to connect to the county's wastewater system, eliminating the need for septic tanks, according to the department.
Miami-Dade officials say the long-term benefits include improved water service reliability, stronger fire protection and reduced reliance on septic systems.
In a statement to The Miami Times, Miami-Dade Commissioner Marleine Bastien acknowledged the impact construction has had on local businesses.
"The ongoing construction along NW 22nd Avenue has created real challenges for many of our businesses," Bastien said.
Bastien said her office has engaged with affected businesses for several months and is working with the Northwest 79th Street Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency and the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to identify solutions.
According to Bastien, Famous Car Wash has been contacted regarding eligibility for the CRA's business assistance program and representatives from the business attended a June 11 CRA meeting focused on available resources.
Young said he was never notified about the road closures and was unaware of when the project would be completed.
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department disputed that account, saying outreach began in 2023 before construction started and included door-to-door notifications, community meetings, project updates and direct engagement with businesses along the corridor. The department said it has communicated with business owners, including Famous Car Wash.
Khass Oupelle, executive director of the Northwest 79th Street Corridor CRA, said the agency is expanding its small-business grant program to provide financial relief to businesses affected by the construction.
"The NW 79th Street CRA has been actively engaged with businesses along this corridor, and we are committed to seeing them through this construction period," Oupelle said in a statement.
The CRA and the commissioner's office say they have been meeting with businesses and exploring financial assistance options. Additional details regarding grant funding and eligibility were not immediately available.
Although county officials say the current phase is expected to be completed in January 2027, Young said he remains concerned about whether the business can withstand months of reduced customer traffic
"We are just trying to pay our rent," he said.
Source: The Miami New Times