CAR Tire & Auto Center new to Waseca since Jan 3

The CAR Tire & Auto Center, located at 200 2nd Ave SE in Waseca, opened in January just across the street from the Waseca Fire Hall. The location formerly housed the Christensen Tire and Auto Center.

 

For more than 45 years, Denny and Linda Christensen ran Christensen Tire and Auto in Waseca. But on January 3 of this year, Scott Zerwas bought Christensen’s and changed the name to CAR. “I’ve been in the auto business for years and plan to keep at it.” Zerwas shares ownership of the business with Matt Sultze, who owns another CAR Tire & Auto in Madison Lake. Zerwas, who is from New Prague, said he plans to stay at the Waseca location. He commented, “We would like to stay in business here; in order to do that we must provide honest auto repair and service in the area. We are still new and we still need to prove ourselves. I believe that’s what we’re doing.”

 

Under prior ownership, the business kept one mechanic on staff and was able to get around 40 vehicle repairs through their garage per week. Tony Hess, one of the new employees at CAR said, “We have eight mechanics here now, versus the three people working before. Now we can get 120 car or truck repairs through our garage per week.” He pointed out their two parts rooms and a new alignment machine, “We kept the old one to double up in case we need it, or if we need to do two cars at a time.”

 

The business has already installed three new lifts this year and plans to put in more. Zerwas said overall the move-in has been pretty smooth and the online reviews have been positive.

Along with Waseca, there are two other CAR Tire & Auto Centers located in Edina and Madison Lake. The people currently manning the Waseca location are Tony Hess, Jason Throener, Logan Alexander, Jeremy Roers, Kenny Shiwpaul, Keith Larson, and owner Scott Zerwas. Among all eight of the Waseca CAR Tire and Auto Center’s employees, they have more than 50 years of car care experience.