Express Way Centers form venture with Quaker State.

ExpressWay Lube Centers, one of the country's largest independent fast lube companies, has formed a joint venture with Quaker State Minit-Lube, the fast lube subsidiary of Quaker State Corporation. ExpressWay's 10 retail outlets, all in the New York metropolitan area, are operated by Lubrication Management Company Inc. (LMC) of Norwalk, Connecticut.

The purpose of the new business arrangement is to develop and operate additional ExpressWay Lube Centers in New York, New Jersey and New England, according to LMC president Albert R. Chance, The exiting ExpressWay's are located in Westchester and Rockland counties as well as Connecticut. Quaker Sated, the nation's second largest in the fast lube industry, operates or franchises some 450 retail outlets in 26 states and Canada. None now exist in the northeast.

"We will consider acquiring existing quick lubes or develop new real estate,: said Chance, "With Minit-Lube's strong financing, marketing and operating systems capability and our knowledge of and success in the northeast market, we see positive opportunities, If things go well, our size could increase exponentially."

Chance has enjoyed unusual success since opening his first center 11 years ago in White Plains, New York. At a time when many small businesses are struggling, the privately-held ExpressWay shows a near 80 percent customer return rate and consistent growth. ExpressWay has long been Quaker Sate's number one consumer of motor oil in the installed market in the northeast.

Change, a Westchester County resident, had no prior experience in the automotive industry before opening the ExpressWay chain. Having read about the fast lube concept prevalent on the west coast, Chance traveled there in 1978 to see them in operation. He believed consumers in the northeast would welcome the concept.