Vice President, tour guide, keeper of the flame
You might think John wouldn’t get excited when a customer’s exotic or vintage car rolls into his father’s shop, since he grew up surrounded by them. But when you stop by, you’ll see just how passionate he is, as he leads you through 40,000 square feet of restoration, machining, and storage areas. And if you’d ask, he’ll can tell you a little about each of the 30 or so cars in the shop at any given time.
Each day he finds new ways to help Black Horse Garage expand and more fully meet customer needs. Yet even as the company grows, there are certain things John guarantees will not change: the personal connection the staff forms with customers, the attention put into every job large and small, and a commitment to some of the highest standards in the business.
Email John at john@blackhorsegarage.com.
How does it feel to work for your dad and on these great cars?
“If you love these cars, there isn’t a better place in the world to work. At a certain point, you realize you’re not in it for the money and if that’s your motivation, you’re going to disappoint yourself and your customers. I came to work for my father to help continue the reputation he’s built on quality work and happy customers. You have to understand, for 20 years he didn’t even advertise in the Yellow Pages. His success comes from word-of-mouth. That’s the type of work we will always do.”
Why do you think Black Horse Garage enjoys so much repeat business?
“I think customers know they will leave here without any regrets. There’s a great deal of trust involved when handing over the keys of your pride and joy. We don’t take that for granted. Also, customers see the value they get here. We’re not the cheapest option for maintaining a classic car, but we make it our mission to exceed customer expectations. You can’t find that just anywhere.”
What’s in store for Black Horse Garage in the future?
“In our Union Avenue facility, we can do more for our customers than ever before. Our customers’ time is valuable, and by offering every service needed by these special cars, customers don’t have to worry about the details. Under our roof, your car can get its oil changed or engine rebuilt. We can store it over the winter, or strip it to bare metal for a re-spray. And soon we’ll offer more options for our customers, making their classic car ownership experience more rewarding and convenient.”