Mountain Mechanic aims to bring reliable automotive service and a sense of community to downtown Quilcene, say co-owners John Holloway and Corey Davis.

The pair has been working to transform the old Chevron station into a clean shop, in harmony with Quilcene’s style, by using cedar shingles on the exterior and by cleaning, painting and installing new equipment inside.

A Quilcene institution, the former Chevron station originally was opened as Sandy’s Chevron and Towing by Sandy and Linda Oen in 1968. In 1974, an auto parts store was added. Sandy Oen retired in 2009, and the station had a few relatively short-term tenants since then, but has remained relatively dormant.

AIMING FOR SUCCESS

“We want it to be a success, to provide us a life,” said Holloway. “It’s a small community, and we want to run a good service, known to be trustworthy, reliable, honest, structured and available, a consistent business in the community.”

Mountain Mechanic offers service and repair for gas, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles.

Davis is an ASE-certified master automotive technician, with additional certification in light duty diesel. He is also a Quilcene High School graduate. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in automotive technology from Peninsula College, with an internship and job experience at Circle and Square Automotive in Port Hadlock. He worked in a couple of other shops, and gained experience working on heavy equipment and boats in Alaska in the summer.

“I always wanted to work on cars since before I could drive,” explained Davis. “I always wanted to own my own shop. It’s exciting.”

Holloway, a Port Townsend native, has 18 years of automotive experience, and an Associate of Arts degree in business management from Edmonds Community College. From 1999 to 2007, he worked at Circle and Square, where he met Davis. He was parts and service director, supervising 33 employees, at Liberty Bay in Poulsbo from 2007 to 2015. He purchased property on Dabob Bay, and worked to set up Hudson Auto Center and Wilder Auto Center in Port Angeles before realizing the dream of his own shop.

‘WE’RE ALL IN’

“I’ve had an idea of owning a shop, and now there’s action behind the idea,” said Holloway. “We’re all in.”

Their business strategy is to focus on keeping automotive problems from happening, using up-to-date knowledge on all vehicles for preventive maintenance, and educating people about their cars along the way.

“I have a very loyal customer base, from service,” said Holloway. “We can give a road map to repair; education is very important. We can help people understand what they need, and why, and how to approach it. We can give someone an agenda that will keep their car in the best shape.

“We have the latest equipment of anybody out there,” noted Holloway of their diagnostic computer.

“We can read out patterns of owner use, so we can even coach people to maximize battery life in their electric car,” said Davis. “It’s not fuel economy, but it’s important. It’s electron economy.”

Service rates are based on industry standard labor guides.

“We’ve had so many interested people coming by,” said Holloway, “and we want to welcome them. I love the people’s enthusiasm.”

Appointments are to be scheduled as the pair are able to get to them. And there is to be free Wi-Fi while you wait as your car is serviced.

The shop has developed a list of 50 people to attend an unpublicized opening, said Holloway, but a formal open house is tentatively planned for May 1.