Southland Auto & Diesel does it all

If you drive a vehicle, you should know about Southland Auto & Diesel.  Located in Spring Valley, just west of Ace Hardware, Southland is a hidden gem of automotive expertise.  Owner Isaac Hurst explained that, “We’ve been here since 2010.  I actually started out selling used cars,” but he adds, “I would work on my own cars that I bought and then sell those, and so then I transitioned into just working on cars once I got busy enough that people just wanted me to work on their other cars that they had… and it’s grown from there… Nine years later and we’ve got myself and two other full-time employees.”  Jay Alrick and Brandt Soukup are the other full-time members of the crew, and they work under the watchful eye of Southland’s mascot, a dog named Jet.

When asked what services he offers, Hurst said, “We do pretty much anything, from oil changes to new engines.  We also try to stay up to date on the new technology with the computers and scan tools.”  For the past three years, Southland has also offered 24-hour towing services, including jump starts, lock-outs, and accident response.  He said the towing services have been growing steadily, and he recently added a second tow truck, but he and his crew enjoy staying busy.  Hurst said, “We started selling tires a number of years ago, and we’ve gotten busy with that, too.  We try to be full service for our customers.”

When Hurst was asked what Southland specializes in, he responded, “We pride ourselves on the diagnostic part of it.  We don’t give up… I really enjoy being able to save the day.  Whether it be another shop looked at a vehicle and they couldn’t get it fixed and we could… or just helping somebody out, whether it’s somebody traveling through town that’s broken down, I like to help turn a bad situation into a good situation.”  This philosophy carries through into Hurst’s off-work time as well, since he is a firefighter for the city of Spring Valley.

Hurst said he’s often asked how he came up with the name of his business, and he explained that he is originally from Tennessee, so that’s why he named his business Southland (though he admits it’s also very fitting since he’s in southern Minnesota).  Hurst acknowledges that some local citizens are still not aware of his business, but said the growth has “mainly been through word of mouth.  We do some advertising, in a couple of papers.  Other than that, we don’t do a whole lot of advertising.  I try to treat my customers like I would want to be treated if I went into their business.  We try to treat people fairly, and I think that’s the best advertising.”

In looking toward the future in automotive shops, Hurst said, “The more technology that they put into cars, which is more creature comforts, more safety features, which are all great for the driving experience, but that’s more and more stuff that you can’t work on at home.  The shops are going to have to keep up on that.” He also stated that he and his crew are looking to expand into a larger building in the coming years, so they can better keep up with the demand.

Hurst said he appreciates being a part of the local business economy, and added, “We’re really thankful for our customers.  I try to shop local and spend my money here, because people spend their money with me.  I appreciate each and every one of our customers.”