By Eric Killough
Freelance reporter
Special to the Tribune
Rusty Owens and wife Cassandra have opened Ace Auto Care, LLC at 108 US-54 in Haviland. The business offers a full line of services for auto care and vehicle maintenance needs.
“I have always loved working on vehicles and tinkering with them. I have been considering what I want to do in my retirement and have dreamed about opening an automotive shop for years,” Rusty Owens said. “When the co-op in Haviland decided to close their fuel and tire shop, it gave me the opportunity to get a jump start on my dreams.”
The doors opened for business at Ace Auto Care on Novemeber 18, 2004. Since then, Owens said he has received amazing support from all of the surrounding communities.
“One of the biggest challenges we have faced is juggling a full-time job while trying to run a new business. It wouldn’t be possible without my wife and our employee, Riley Conn,” he said.
Currently, customers of Ace Auto Care can expect oil changes, tire repairs, new tires, Interstate batteries, mechanic work, detailing, and pretty much whatever is needed.
“We haven’t had to say ‘no’ too much,” Owens said. “We will be working with a local business to provide irrigation system parts and tires. That will be in place in the next month or so. We have plans to keep expanding and offering new services in the future. Currently customers have been bringing in personal vehicles, company vehicles, and farm vehicles for mechanic work, tires, and regular maintenance.”
Owens said willingness to work with customers to provide the services that they need makes his shop unique.
“We love the community here in Haviland and are happy to be working with the people who live here,” he said. “They have been overwhelmingly supportive and are encouraging us to keep growing and adding new services. I have been part of this community for the last 15 or 16 years as the grain operations manager at the co-op and had relationships with many of the people here before opening the shop. This is a community that sort of accepts and adopts just about everyone.”
Ace Auto Care may be contacted, and appointments set, by calling (620) 862-5273 or by visiting their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568228541919 listed as Ace Auto Care LLC.
