Arizona Repair Shop Opens New Seven-Bay Facility

Gasoline Alley recently opened its brand new facility in Green Valley, AZ. The new shop, which is next to its previous location, features seven service bays as well as a sophisticated exhaust system, evaporative coolers to keep the shop cool during the summer and a waste oil heating system for the winter.

Below is the article as it appeared on the Green Valley News and Sun website.

Shop realizes 7-year goal with new building

By Karen Walenga
January 8, 2011

Edie and Johnnie Lake. (Karen Walenga / Green Valley News)

A Green Valley automotive service and repair shop began the new year by christening its new building on West Camino Casa Verde.

Gasoline Alley opened its new shop Monday next to its previous location, said Edie Lake, who owns the business with her husband, Johnnie.

A customer brought in a bottle of champagne, a parts supplier sent a cake, and Lake left some coins around the new building so the Gasoline Alley staff would never be thirsty, hungry or without money in their new building, she said.

“It’s all come together, and we’re so excited,” Lake said. A grand opening celebration is planned in early February.

The new steel building, erected by CA Development & Construction of Tucson, measures 50 feet by 80 feet and includes a bright, comfortable waiting room and handicapped-accessible restroom for customers, an office for the Lakes, an employee lunchroom, changing room with lockers and a shower, and employee restroom.

The spacious repair shop has seven lifts, a sophisticated exhaust system, evaporative coolers for the summer and a waste-oil heating system for the winter.

To read this article on the Green Valley News and Sun website, visit http://www.gvnews.com/business/article_a342dc60-1bb7-11e0-bc95-001cc4c002e0.html.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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