Midtown Transmission & Auto Care on 15th Street East will close at the end of July. The building and land has been sold to P.A. Autobody, which is planning to expand later in the summer.
Midtown Transmission has operated in Prince Albert since 1982, when it was started by Brian Tuck. Allan Hopkins began working with Midtown Transmission in 1989 and later bought Tuck out to become sole owner in 2000.
Allan said he was not looking to close the business, but received an offer he could not refuse for the building and land. Allan, who grew up in Saskatoon, said he plans to stay in Prince Albert and is considering other employment options once the business closes. He is hoping to continue working in the automotive industry.
“I’ve got a lot of friends in P.A. and I’d kind of like to hang around,” he said.
“I’ve always liked living here. I like the atmosphere of P.A and enjoy being close to the parks and lakes.”
Allan is a long-time supporter of the Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce and served as board chair in 2008-2009. Over the years, he has been involved in a number of other community initiatives, including sitting on the board of the Victoria Hospital Foundation from 2006 to 2011.
Allan said he is thankful for the relationships Midtown Transmission has developed over the years and credits his customers and the support of the community with the company’s longevity. He will be contacting all his customers to let them know about the company’s closure and his future plans.
“A big thank you goes out to all my customers. I hope to be able to serve them again in the future,” he adds.
“Our business has always revolved around serving our clients and it’s always been rewarding. We’ve developed really good relationships.”
While change can be difficult, it can also be exciting to look at new opportunities.
“I still enjoy coming to work every day, it’s very fulfilling,” Hopkins added.
“But, I’m also excited about the prospect of having a little bit of free time to enjoy life.”
Also excited about the prospect of new opportunities are the folks at P.A. Autobody. Co-owner and general manager Shane Goller said acquiring the Midtown Transmission building will nearly double their work space, to 14,000 square feet. The expansion will also include the addition of office and management space, more parking, a third paint booth and more work bays.
“I personally do not have an office right now,” Goller noted.
“We are at 100 per cent capacity at this time.”
Goller said P.A. Autobody will be hosting an event in the fall to celebrate the company’s expansion.