Based in the small town of Eveleth with a population of just over 3,400 residents, J.M. Auto Service is a general repair shop preparing residents for all seasons. The shop’s snowplow business is in demand year-round, and with the winter season approaching, they’re ready to lend a helping hand when drivers need it.
From the shop’s warm interior to the friendly faces welcoming customers, Owner Kevin Bird walks through some of the details that make his shop a staple in the community.
A Comfortable Place to Land
J.M. Auto Service is housed in a beige Morton building with a large sign brandishing the shop’s logo and advertising its snowplow services, which are a must-have for many drivers in Minnesota. Western Defender snowplows are on full display in the business’ front lawn for passersby to see.
“To me, they’re the Cadillac of snowplows; that kind of real high-end snowplow,” says Bird. “We put them on everything, from side-by-sides to front-end loaders. It’s a very seasonal business, but there isn’t a month that we don’t put a snowplow on. So, in the middle of July, it’ll be 80 degrees in northern Minnesota, and we’re still putting a snowplow on.”
Moving inside, the cozy atmosphere immediately welcomes guests with warm beige and brown tones, wood accents, and a fireplace flanked by houseplants. The space comes equipped with Wi-Fi and refreshments, such as snacks and coffee.
“We wanted to go for more of a living room feel versus a waiting room feel—or at the very least an automotive feel,” explains Bird.
Spacious and Transparent
Meanwhile, the shop service advisors are up front near the waiting area, ready to assist any customer that walks in. A large window not only frames the space and allows customers to peek inside at the shop floor, but it creates the illusion of a larger space.
The shop floor features nine bays and angled Mohawk lifts, with bay doors on both sides of the shop. While they try to conserve warm air in the winter, they often leave both sides open in the summer for cars to breeze in and out.
A BG flush machine is in the shop for transmission and coolant flushes, as well as a Hunter Hawkeye Elite alignment machine and rack.
“We really pride ourselves on being a clean shop. I would have to say we’re probably the cleanest shop in the area,” says Bird. “You can look directly into the shop and see the guys working on your vehicles, which means we’ve got to be on our A-game—keeping everything up to spec and not leaving grease stains and things laying around. Cleanliness is very important to us.”
About the Author
Kacey Frederick
Associate Editor
Kacey Frederick joined as the assistant editor of Ratchet+Wrench in 2023 after graduating from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith with a bachelor’s in English and a minor in philosophy.
The grandchild of a former motorcycle repair shop owner, he’s undergone many trials and tribulations with vehicles. Now the proud owner of a reliable 2011 Toyota Camry, he works to represent those in the repair industry that keep him and so many others safely rolling on.