A Brookfield based car-repair business got a tune-up of its own recently, when it was rated one of the top 44 Chicago-area auto repair shops in an article published in the May issue of Chicago Magazine. My Mechanic, owned since 2001 by Mike Larson, said he felt the award was based on his approach to service.
“We feel that is based on our honesty and we try to keep a good relationship with our customer,” Larson said. “We are honored and privileged to have our shop name include in the article.”
Larson, who began fixing cars while attending Riverside-Brookfield High School in the late 1970s always clung to the idea of owning his own shop. So, after working for several years as a mechanical engineer he saved enough money to buy My Mechanic.
The shop is located on 8916 Fairview Ave. in Brookfield and offers all-purpose auto repair. Larson and mechanics Don Peppers and Brian Czech have a combined experience of 56 years and perform tune-ups, emissions diagnosis, brakes, steering and suspension, electrical, oil changes?”essentially everything that a car needs. Larson’s formula for success has been simple; treat customers how he would like to be treated.
“There are a lot of auto repair shops out there and I think the difference between us and the majority of them because is we treat the customer as the individual,” he said. “We listen better than the larger shops and we don’t treat people like a number.”
Larson first received recognition in 2005, from a consumer reports-like magazine called Consumer Checkbook. Consumer Checkbook rated the top 587 auto repair shops in the Chicago region, with My Mechanic being listed. Still, Larson didn’t know his shop was featured in Chicago Magazine until some of his customers began bringing in copies of the list.
“I was born and raised in North Riverside, so it makes me feel good to have people I grew up with recommend my work to others,” Larson said. “I think it is the personal attention we give to customer’s that sets us apart. We send out thank yous and reminders of recommended repairs on a regular basis.”
My Mechanic is located near the downtown Brookfield Metra station, which makes it convenient for our commuter customers to pick up their repaired cars. While Larson has enjoyed the recognition the Chicago Magazine article has given his shop, he said he doesn’t plan on veering away from what got him there.
“We strive to maintain a good relationship with our customers so they know we really care about them and their vehicles,” he said. “We know that honesty is the best policy when it comes to auto repair and that has been the biggest part of our success.”