Mt. Pleasant Auto Sales opens satellite

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

— What does a respiratory therapist and paramedic do when he retires? Why, open an automotive repair shop, of course.

That’s exactly what Damon Wallace has done.

Wallace, owner of Mt. Pleasant Auto Sales for the past three years, recently leased the former Finish Line Gas Station in Town Center and opened a satellite venture called Finish LIne Automotive.

After retiring from Mercy Health Systems of Northwest Arkansas, Wallace said he was looking around forsomething else to do.

“The Lord opened some doors and I bought (the Mt. Pleasant operation).”

Wallace and his team of certified mechanics - Jeff Simpson, Parker Mitchell and recently-hired Paul Weeks - are open for business Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Weekend hours will likely come in the future, Wallace said.

They can do just about any kind of maintenance on just about any kind of car, truck, RV and more, said Wallace.

“It all depends on the parts and the timeliness of getting them,” he said.

Wallace is not a certifiedmechanic, but he can do some minor jobs such as oil changes.

Because they just opened about a month ago Wallace said they don’t have all the equipment and inventory in place. Eventually they will stock major brand tires and other parts.

Wallace is not selling gas yet and has not totally discounted that idea for the future.

All their work comes with a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty, and much of it is honored at shops all across the country, said the owner.

About the only thing Wallace and his team do not do when it comes to cars isbody work.

“We are a professional repair facility,” he said.

Some work, such as frontend alignments, won’t be done on the premises because Wallace doesn’t have a machine here.

“They’ll have to go to Mt. Pleasant.”

Wallace might be new to Bella Vista, but he is seeing a lot of familiar faces in his first weeks.

“About 70 percent of our business in Mt. Pleasant is from the Highlands,” he said of those folks he already knows.

Call Wallace to schedule a repair or other service at 876-2855. If it’s after hours, leave a message.

Community, Pages 12 on 09/07/2011