The wheels keep turning: Despite virus, Arnold auto repair center continues to provide quality work
For nearly four decades, Auto Bodys Unlimited in Arnold has been making things right for vehicles that have been through a tough time.
And COVID-19 hasn’t gotten in the way of continuing that mission.
“Work has stayed steady through the entire ordeal,” owner Tim Jacobs said.
He said his business, 2118 Michigan Ave., continues to repair and restore vehicles that have been involved in collisions.
“We have been a three-man shop for 37 years. I think we do top-quality work, and we will keep doing that for as long as we are around,” Jacobs said.
Initially, he said, staff at the repair shop only met with customers outside the building, but customers can now enter.
“Most people come in wearing masks,” Jacobs said. “My employees have masks available to them and will wear them if requested. No one has asked (an employee to put on a mask).”
Jacobs said Auto Bodys Unlimited typically works on six to seven vehicles a week. He said in mid-March, when stay-at-home orders went into effect, his new-customer business slowed down.
That lull allowed Auto Bodys Unlimited to service numerous customers who had been waiting for their vehicles to be repaired.
“We had a backflow of people wanting to get in here,” Jacobs said. “We contacted them and got them in here as we could do them. That got us through the first couple of months. We were that far behind. I don’t know how we would have gotten to some of them, because they were huge jobs.”
Because of the virus, Jacobs said some jobs can take longer to complete than normal because of interruptions in the supply chain, but he said customers have been understanding about delays.
“The community has been great,” Jacobs said. “I would like to give a special thanks over the years to our loyal customers and to the great employees that I’ve been lucky to have.”