The former Midas Muffler shop at 1228 Truman Blvd. in Crystal City is getting new owners and a new exterior look.
Bates Automotive, which now is at 1890 Hwy. Z, Pevely, will move into the store, which has been vacant for about two years.
“Many of our customers are from Festus and Crystal City and the R-7 area, so moving is going to help them out,” said Dalton Bates, a technician and son of the owner, Jeff Bates.
He said workers have been preparing the site for about three weeks, including a checkerboard pattern on white walls to draw attention to drivers on Truman Boulevard.
Dalton Bates said the new location should open in early or mid-October.
He said his father opened the business about six years ago after working as an automotive technician at dealerships, most recently Sapaugh Motors.
The younger Bates said the move will expand the business’ capacity from three work bays to four and will allow the business to add custom exhaust work and alignments, services that have been contracted out.
“We’ll be able to do everything under one roof,” Dalton Bates said. “We’ll do tires, major diagnostics – basically everything having to do with automotive repair.”
The new location also will offer a more spacious waiting room, he said.
The business will continue to employ five full-time workers.
Dalton Bates said the Pevely location will be used for storage after the business opens in Crystal City.