SHOP: Kinney’s Automotive Service LOCATION: Hurst, Texas OWNER: Car Concepts Inc.(Joe Jurosek is the general manager) SIZE: 30,000 square feet
STAFF: 12 (7 techs, 3 salespeople, 1 inspector, 1 general manager)
MONTHLY CAR COUNT: 500
1) The building that now houses Kinney’s Automotive was originally slated to be a department store. The space was constructed and just as the escalators were getting ready to be put in, the plans fell through.
Enter Car Concepts, a group of seven independently operated automotive repair and tire locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, which jumped at the opportunity to acquire the 30,000-square-foot space.
2 ) The size of Kinney’s can be intimidating at first glance. In fact, general manager Joe Jurosek says it’s a common customer concern that their car may be overlooked on the massive shop floor. The way he sees it, though, Kinney’s size is its greatest advantage.
“We can take in a lot of work at one time, and you don’t have to worry about your car being left outside overnight,” Jurosek says. “We have seven mechanics, but they have room to work on four or five cars at a time before they have to get one out. We can check a lot of work quickly, and if we get flooded with business at once, we can at least get answers quickly. ... We can work comfortably with 20 cars in the garage, and that’s with plenty of aisle room two-cars wide for driving the cars in and out.”
3 ) Another major advantage Jurosek sees in the shop is the amount of automotive lifts they are able to utilize. Kinney’s has 17 lifts on its floor, which gives them the luxury of not having to switch cars in and out and allows for cars to stay elevated for a prolonged period of time.
“[The technicians] don’t ever have to wait for a lift,” Jurosek says. “Smaller shops with fewer lifts, they have to shuffle cars in and out. We may check out a car and not even have to pull out or lower the car for a day if we’re waiting on a part. We don’t have to double handle all these cars.”
4 ) Besides the sheer size of the shop, Jurosek says he gets the most comments from people about the customer bathroom.
“We get a lot of comments about the bathroom,” Jurosek says. “They say it’s better than their restroom at home. The ladies love it. It’s huge and roomy, really clean. I get compliments on that more than anything in the shop.”
5 ) The shop also sports a unique, custom-made counter in the lobby, along with vintage auto decor. The counter is trimmed in cedar with a Colorado stone surface.
