By Mary Whalen
When dialing Matt’s Body Shop & Tire Service on the north side of Spring Valley, be sure to let the phone ring a good long time because owners, Dave Blazing and Chris Czapiewski are usually in the shop working on vehicles.
For over fifty years, Matt’s Body Shop, which was started by Matt Paulisich, has been assisting area residents with a personal service as only found in smaller communities. Both Blazing and Czapiewski began working with Paulisich in the ‘70s after they had finished the auto mechanic program at Austin Vocational School. “Actually, I started helping out after school before I graduated from the vo-tech in 1975,” says Czapiewski, “As time went on Matt worked more with managing, and Dave and I did most of the work. We helped build the reputation Matt’s customers enjoy and it is important for us to maintain the high quality of work people have come to expect.”
“Good service is important to us.” says Blazing. “We know our customers and want them to be satisfied, because we count on return business to be successful.” Covering a broad range of expertise, Matt’s Body & Tire Service does window repairs, windshield replacement, auto body restoration, frame straightening, oil change, computerized paint matching, auto repairs, exhaust repairs, belt replacement, radiator hose repairs, tire repair, tire rotation, tire alignment, tire computer balancing, and farm implement tires.
Matt’s Body Shop & Tire Service is more than just a place local people come to get their vehicles serviced, Fillmore County Journal readers and even those passing through Spring Valley have learned that going the extra mile for the customer is an everyday occurrence in the lives of these two men. “We really care about people and want to help them.” Czpiewski explains, “One Saturday I was mowing the lawn at the shop after we’d closed and a woman came in with a problem with her wheel. By working with her, I was able to see that she secured a rental vehicle, got to the place she was needing to go, and fixed her problem by the time she returned. You’re not going to find this kind of service in the city.”
Customers place their confidence in Blazing and Czapiewski when problems with their vehicles arise. People who have had experiences like hitting a deer or some sort of fender bender are under higher levels of stress, so going to Matt’s where you can trust they will find the most cost effective way to repair your vehicle makes a difference. “Did you know that Matt’s Body Shop is State Farm’s Select Service Plus?” mentions a customer when picking up an estimate for her vehicle.
It’s that hometown feeling that Blazing and Czapiewski want to make sure continues to be a part of their business. Both, being civic minded, are involved with the area communities in many ways. Blazing is a member of the Pheasants Forever and the Stewartville Sportsman’s Club. Czapiewski is active with firefighters of Spring Valley and just recently retired from working with the Spring Valley Area Ambulance Association after 27 years. If these two cannot fix a problem, they send the vehicle off to someone who can. The idea of utilizing the local businesses who may have different equipment or expertise for more complicated problems is always an option.
To find these “A-1 Collision Repair Specialists” head north on highway 63/16 to 1140 North Broadway Street, Spring Valley, Minn., from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or call the shop at (507) 346-2161. They also have a web page, mattsbodyshop.com and check emails every day: matbodsp2006@centrytel.net.
Leave a Reply