60 years as a family business

In 1963, Nick Sobolew was working at Judge’s Ford on Lake Avenue, in Rochester. Sobolew’s co-worker and friend at Judge’s, Pete VanDerhoeven, asked him if he wanted to invest with him in an auto repair business that he found for sale. In 1963, they went into business together and opened Howard Road Garage, located at 51 Howard Road, in Gates.

Initially, the majority of Howard Road Garage’s business came from local auto dealerships, installing air conditioning and cruise control systems in new automobiles. In the 1960s, new cars did not come into dealerships equipped with AC and Cruise Control, they were optional features that car buyers could select at the time of purchase. Installing so many units for dealerships helped Howard Road Garage to become known, area-wide, as an air conditioning specialist.

In the 1980s, Nick Sobolew bought out his partner, Pete, and in the late 1990s Nick retired from the business, passing it on to his son, Anatol “Ski”, and daughter-in-law, Sharon Sobolew, who are the current owners. Today Ski and Sharon’s three sons, Josh, Justin and Jordan, all work together in the family business.

“My husband, Ski, grew up as a mechanic working here at the garage. When my father-in-law retired in the late 1990s, Ski needed help and asked me to come in and manage the business. Currently I am the secretary, receptionist and business manager, and I love every minute of my job,” Sharon Sobolew said.

The business slogan at Howard Road Garage is, “Doing Business The Old Fashioned Way.” Customer service is the number one priority. “Customer loyalty is huge for us. Our customers keep coming back. We also have a lot of referrals, friends of friends and family members of long time customers. We have one customer, Dan, who has been coming to us since 1964. He will stop in just for a visit and to sit around and talk,” Sharon said.

There are lots of customers who stop in, not only for car service, they come to socialize, sitting around the large table in the waiting room, sharing stories and news. “We all share in each other’s laughter and tears. I love being here. Every day I learn something from our customers,” Sharon said.

Sharon has decorated the customer waiting room with antique Ford memorabilia. “In the 1930s, this building was a Ford garage. I was clearing out a storage room and found lots of interesting, vintage Ford items. Lots of customers donate items to our collection. Everyone just loves talking about, and looking at, all the stuff on the shelves,” she said.

Howard Road Garage is a full service garage. In 2018, they opened their “Fleet Shop” where they have the ability to service large trucks and vans. This is where another busy aspect of their business, servicing and maintaining commercial vehicles for businesses, takes place.

In addition to specializing in air conditioning and heating system installation and repairs, Howard Road Garage offers complete auto repair and maintenance. According to their website, “Your car’s engine is made up of hundreds of complex components working together to ensure that your vehicle starts and runs properly. Over time, however, these components can wear out, resulting in a loss of performance and fuel economy. We believe in preventive maintenance – keeping your car in good working order and avoiding the problems that can lead to roadside breakdowns. Our expert technicians are trained to help keep your car running as safely as possible, making sure that the major mechanical systems are functioning properly and efficiently. At Howard Road Garage, we understand how important your car is to you and we know your car’s needs. We can help you follow its factory-recommended maintenance schedule.”

Howard Road Garage, 51 Howard Road in Gates, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 585-429-5790 to schedule a service appointment. For more information, visit http://www.howardroadgarage.com.