Nelson Tire under new ownership

Experienced mechanic to take the wheel

By Amie Johansen | amie@charlescitypress.com

Dave Martin went from a bad day to a very good day when Harold Nelson, owner of Nelson Tire and Auto, walked into his place of employment. At the time, Martin was attempting to purchase the auto body shop where he was currently working. However, a series of roadblocks prevented Martin from closing the deal.

“Harold doesn’t come in very often to this other shop and he walked in right after this other stuff happened,” Martin said. “He asked how my day was going and it led from there.”

Martin explained to Nelson his frustration of trying to purchase the shop. Having heard Martin’s predicament, Nelson reminded Martin he was looking to retire and in the midst of trying to sell Nelson Tire and Auto.

“Kind of a good thing that Harold walked in that way,” Martin said. “It’s been weird like that, everything has just fallen into place ever since he walked in.”

Where Martin’s previous attempts to purchase an auto shop were thwarted at every turn, each piece fell neatly into place when it came to purchasing the shop from Nelson. For instance, in trying to decide what to have breakfast, Martin and his wife decided on a breakfast pizza.

While at the gas station, Martin ran into Charley Thomson who offered to look over the final paperwork to close the deal at no cost, he said. According to Martin, he and his family rarely ever visit the gas station and happenstance placed Thomson and Martin in the same place at the same time.

Fate has been on his side since the beginning, Martin said. He looks forward to using his talents and his experience in the auto maintenance industry to continue the reliable service of Nelson Tire and Auto.

“I probably got 20 years experience from restoring, repairing, rebuilding,” Martin said. “(I’ve done) everything under the hood and on top of the hood.”

Martin does not plan to make any major changes to Nelson Tire and Auto.

“We bought the corporation, everything stays the same,” Martin said.

Nelson will stay on for the first three months of Martin’s ownership to help ease the transition for customers and employees, though Martin has already begun working with the existing employees to reassure them of their positions.

“We just went over that the other day, they were getting a little nervous,” Martin said. “(I went) in and calmed everyone down and know that they are safe.”

Along with reassuring the existing mechanics of their employment, Martin asked them about their ideas to improve Nelson Tire and Auto.

“Talking to the mechanics, ‘so what do you want?’” Martin said. “They want computers.”

Besides updating to a computer system, Martin hopes to keep most everything else the same and is eager to share his skills in this new capacity.

“I’m a very honest mechanic,” Martin said. “If they have a huge repair list let’s tackle the stuff a little at a time. Let’s spread it out. I don’t like big bills like they don’t.”

Martin, along with Nelson, will be hosting an open house from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16 at Nelson Tire and Auto. All are invited to attend the party.

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