Roof of Georgia Auto Repair Shop Collapses Under Weight of Snow

The weight of the snow on the roof of Greg Stanley Automotive, located in Rome, GA, caused the roof to collapse onto four vehicles that were inside the service bays. The owner of the business will have to find another building to continue to operate the repair shop.

Below is the article as it appeared on The Rome News-Tribune website.

Auto repair shop decked by snow

by Doug Walker, Associate Editor
January 10, 2011

The roof of Greg Stanley Automotive, 902 Desoto Ave, collapsed Monday morning. (Ken Caruthers/rn-t.com)

The weight of snow caused the roof at Greg Stanley Automotive, 902 DeSoto Ave., to collapse Monday morning.

Stanley, who has been in business at the location for close to two decades, was notified of the problem around 7 a.m. Monday and was able to get to the scene to retrieve what he could safely get out of the building.

The property is owned by Howard Alexander of Howard Realty.

Officer Mike Simmons with the Rome Police Department said four cars were inside the building when the roof gave way to the snow. He said two of the cars took the brunt of the collapse and sustained significant damage, while two others still buried beneath the rubble may not have been damaged as seriously.

Simmons, who has been a close friend of Stanley’s for three decades, said it was clear Stanley would have to find another building to continue to operate the auto repair shop.

To read this article on The Rome News-Tribune website, visit http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/10954386/article-Auto-repair-shop-decked-by-snow?instance=home_news_lead_story.

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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