By Jessica Legge
FAIRMONT — Steels Pre-Owned Cars and Motorcycles and Auto Repair is now serving the local area.
Steels offers full-service repair and also sells used cars and motorcycles. The shop is located at 740 Bellview Blvd., across the street from Aegis Communications.
Owner Rob Haller is originally from Fairmont but now lives in Barrackville. He operates the business with the help of Jeff Lewlis, who is a full-service mechanic, and one part-time worker.
At Steels, Haller concentrates on selling the pre-owned vehicles, and Lewlis “pretty much can do any type of service repair.” Courtesy pick-up and drop-off is available.
Haller owns another business — he invests in property and has several rental units in Fairmont. A year ago, he decided to open a car lot on Locust Avenue with some of the space he had, and found that he enjoyed this work.
“I like dealing in cars,” Haller said. “I like dealing with the public.”
He didn’t have a garage there, but he often dealt with Lewlis for automobile repairs. Haller asked Lewlis if he’d come work for him if he bought a garage. And when Haller purchased the facility in Bellview, Lewlis joined him at the business.
Haller obtained the building at the end of April and completely remodeled the space. He said “it took a while” to get it ready for business.
“We actually came in and gutted it pretty much down to nothing and put it back new,” he said.
He put some used cars on the lot in June, and the garage side has been open for about three weeks.
Haller said Steels is surprisingly doing pretty well and has been getting some customers. He hopes business keeps growing.
Steels Pre-Owned Cars and Motorcycles and Auto Repair is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 304-366-3342.
E-mail Jessica Legge at jlegge@timeswv.com.
