The little things that Hometown Service Center does to accommodate its customers put the “small” in small business.
The car repair and maintenance shop at 130 E. College Ave. has been part of the Westerville community since 2002. In 2009, it expanded and developed Hometown Luxury Wash & Detail Spa.
The business was founded by Tim Kuchler, who’s been a resident of Westerville all his life. His family has maintained businesses in the community for more than half a century, and it made sense for him to carry on that tradition, he says.
“I grew up in Westerville and it was a lifelong dream to have a business here,” says Kuchler.
The shop works on cars both foreign and domestic, as well as SUVs, minivans, pickup trucks and more. Services include diagnostic checks; oil changes; scheduled maintenance; safety inspections; steering and alignment work; fluid checks and top-offs; tire balance, rotation and repair; engine tune-ups; electrical work; transmission services; exhaust and muffler services; suspension and brake work; and various comfort services such as heating and air conditioning repair. More involved work includes major engine repair and complete drive train repair.
The name Kuchler chose for the shop is apt; most customers are families living in Westerville, he says.
“We provide them with expert services to keep their vehicles running safely and efficiently at reasonable prices,” he says.
Alongside customer service, family is a key value at Hometown Service Center. Kuchler’s wife and sons are involved in daily operations, and even the family’s three Australian shepherds – Bueller, Vida and Jazzy – get in on the action by greeting those who walk in the door.
Kuchler himself has served on the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau’s board of directors, the Uptown Review Board and the
Board of Zoning Appeals.
He has been operating in Westerville long enough to notice trends in the community and experience modest growth in his business, he says.
“We are very committed to providing exceptional customer service,” says Kuchler. “We go out of our way to make sure our customers are accommodated as much as possible. We love our business and we love Westerville.”
Jeanne Cantwell is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
