New Garage for Smithwest Service Center

Smithwest Service Center, the St. James-based car service center and AAA car-care center, has moved, but for those nervous about how far they’re moving away don’t fret – they’re now located right next door. 

There were many reasons for the move to the 795 Middle Country Road location, according to owner Greg Vassar, including better exposure to the street, better parking, nicer office area and cheaper rent. 

"Luckily we've done most of the work ourselves to fix the building on the inside, that's helped in that we didn't have to pay somebody with a big price to put flooring in, paint, wallpaper, fixtures – we've done that ourselves," Vassar said. "The fact that it was right next door made the transition extremely smooth, many of the things we brought from one building to the other we literally walked over or put it on a pickup truck and drove 30 feet." 

Vassar said they started making the move to the new location on Feb. 1 and expects to complete the move by the end of this week.

More than five years prior to being in the 789 Middle Country Road in St. James location the service center was based out of two Mobil gas stations, but Smithwest decided to get out of the gas business and they had outgrown the smaller shops gas stations typically provide. 

Smithwest is a service center and AAA car-care center that specializes in computer diagnostics and problem cars. Work and parts for both AAA members and non-members have a 12-month guarantee nationwide but members get 10-percent off of most work and parts with exceptions such as tires, batteries and dealer parts.