For Randy Pickering, the 40th anniversary of Pickering's Auto Service represents more than nearly a half-century in business. But it's really the continuation of 70 years of family history in the auto industry.
"It's a really special moment for me and all of us," Randy said. "It's not too often you get to be in the same business as your parents --; and your kids follow in that same business."
With locations in Lakewood and Arvada, the business had a 1950s-style celebration for longtime customers, vendors and family members on Sept. 10 at its Lakewood company headquarters at 90 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
"We started in Lakewood and have been in this location for 18 years," Randy said. "We started out as a tire sales company that did some mechanical, and have transitioned over 40 years to full mechanical."
At the event, Randy greeted every visitor by name, with a warm handshake or hug, and ushered them into the bay area for food, music and games.
"We did a '50s-style theme because that's the era we really call back to at Pickering's," said Taylor Pickering, Randy's daughter and the company's marketing director. "That was the time when these kinds of shops were more than just service places --; you stopped in once a week for gas and really got to know the people."
Taylor and her brothers, Trent and Brandon, all work for the company in different departments. None planned it that way, Taylor said, but they all take so much pride in their father's company and the work he does.
"It's really cool to see my father succeed for 40 years," she said. "He has an amazing work ethic and is so great with people."
Randy is the fourth generation of Pickerings to work in the auto industry. He got his start working for his father's tire sales company; his grandfather also owned an auto shop in Kansas.
Changing with the time means getting the latest and most sustainable technology, and both locations are Energy Star and Green Garage certified. That means the locations have been recognized for parking structure management, programming, design and technology. The Lakewood location is powered by 250 solar panels.
Over the years, Randy has seen a lot of changes in the Lakewood community, from the fall of the once thriving Villa Italia shopping mall at Alameda and Wadsworth, to the rise of Belmar, the award-winning shopping and residential development built over the site of Villa Italia. Throughout all the change, the company has focused on community involvement.
"We've always been very connected to Lakewood and what's going on in the community," Randy said. "We wouldn't be able to do what we do without the long relationships we've had with the people around us."
That customer focus is still bringing in and keeping people coming to the shop, like Westminster residents David and Margaret Koski, who first visited the Arvada location 2 1/2 years ago. They've been loyal customers ever since.
"I wanted to find a place that I could trust," David said. "They actually care at Pickering's and have empathy for you."
The plan is for the company to remain in the family for generations to come. Taylor, Trent and Brandon are already planning to take over once their father retires.
"That's Dad's legacy to us," Taylor said. "He started the business to support his family, and now we will be able to continue and support our families with the business."
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Forty-family-years-at-Pickerings,235374
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