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Bill and Jennifer Griffin
FARMINGTON HILLS — Back in the mid-2000s, expert mechanic Bill Griffin yearned to open his own automotive repair shop.
“At that time I was just a technician doing it on the side while working a regular job and raising a family,” he said. “I started off with one hoist in my garage at home.”
When Bill finally openedGriffin’s NeighborhoodAuto Clinic on Nov. 7, 2007, he had no idea how far his dream would take him.
Business has steadily grown at his full-service shop, where he and his fellow technicians work on foreign and domestic cars, classic cars, trucks, sports vehicles and muscle cars, and also do diesel and fleet repair.
“It’s a surreal moment for us to be in business 16 years,” Bill said. “To grow from a side gig to having our 11,000-square-foot facility with 11 bays has been a dream come true for myself and my wife, Jennifer.”
Many family-owned automotive repair operations are disappearing, Bill explained, because owners are retiring or being bought out by investment firms.
“We are one of the last few of a dying breed of true family-owned automotive repair businesses with family-owned values,” he noted. “The key to our longevity is that we are true experts in our field. We look forward to giving our customers the best automotive service for many more years.”
Bill and Jennifer find it gratifying to help their employees live their best lives.
“We have spent our time building a superstar team and finally feel like we have exactly what we need,” Bill said, adding that one of their longest-serving employees, James Stearns, has been with Griffin’s for 15 years.
“Watching James grow from an 18-year-old to a married family man and highly accomplished ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Master Technician as well as an ASE Diesel Certified Technician has been like watching one of our own kids grow up.
“JodieChapman, who started at 16 years old and now, at 18, is an ASE Certified Technician, is one of the newest additions we look forward to grooming as an industry leader and innovator. Curt Dewitt joined us after working for a dealership for 24 years because he wanted a family-oriented environment. Fred Garcia also joined our team for more stability and a family atmosphere. Both Aaron Towne, who joined us as an apprentice and is now an ASE Certified Technician, and Scott Ford, our service manager, have been with us for five years. It has been rewarding for us to teach a good, solid trade to people who want to learn and embrace it within a family environment where their success is our success. Without these guys 16 years probably wouldn’t have been possible.”
To celebrate their anniversary, Griffin’s is holding an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
“Jennifer and I invite everyone to come see why we are different,” Bill said.
Present this ad as a first-time customer and receive a free oil change in celebration of the company’s 16th anniversary.
Griffin’s Neighborhood Auto Clinic is located at 23905 Freeway Park Drive in Farmington Hills. Call (248) 888-9406 or visit griffinsautoclinic.com.
