CURRENT MANAGEMENT STAFF at Art Morse Auto Repair in Battle Ground are shown here. Pictured, from left to right, are Christy Hunt, Josh Steuben, Jeff Ramos and Art Morse Jr.
When Art Morse Sr. first started his auto repair business back in 1980, he was working out of a three-bay shop at his place of residence three miles east of Battle Ground. Once he saw the need for an auto repair facility in Battle Ground, however, his dream and business began to grow.
“Being a visionary, starting his own business was the first step towards building a future for his family and he could see Battle Ground needed a state of the art auto repair facility,” said Art Morse Jr., who became president of Art Morse Auto Repair, Inc. after his father passed away from cancer in 1998.
Morse said that his father purchased two blackberry-covered acres on West Main Street in Battle Ground in 1987. At that time, the only two businesses on that side of town were Rocky’s Pizza and Wayside Market. Over the next four years, Morse’s father put together the plans to build a 10-bay, 5,000-square-foot shop on one acre. The business moved into the new building in December 1991.
The original building plans for the repair center included using the first two bays as a quick lube and the other eight for auto repair.
“Well, needless to say, the business took right off and we outgrew the building by 1996,” Morse said. “At that point my father decided to build a stand-alone, four-bay building for the quick lube in 1997 and we moved that portion of the business to gain two extra bays in the main shop for auto repair.”
Morse said growth has been constant and steady over the past 23 years, and they have added even more services and have really become a “one-stop shop” for auto repair. Some of those added services include alignments, tires, transmissions, windshields, reflashing network modules, diesel repair and almost any other auto repair service one can think of.
After his father passed away, Morse and his mother, Sherry, and his brother, Kevin, continued to run the shop. In 2003, the family built a collision center, Elite Collision & Auto Spa, on the other acre of property. Sherry retired around that time and Morse currently runs the auto repair shop and the quick lube, Battle Ground Quick Lube, while Kevin runs the collision center.
Art Morse Auto Repair offers a full range of auto repair, and Morse said if they can’t do it they will sublet it so the customer only has to deal with one shop or person for any given repair. Some of the repairs they most commonly see at the shop include servicing fuel injectors, tune ups and timing belts.
“Art Morse Auto Repair prides ourselves on staying up to date with technology,” Morse said. “We have the latest diagnostic equipment and we will work on all makes and models of vehicles.”
Morse said that he believes their great customer service is what sets Art Morse Auto Repair apart from the competition.
“You will be greeted with a smile and we will work hard to deliver same-day repairs,” he said.
The repair shop is AAA approved and they also offer a two-year, 25,000-mile warranty on repairs. Complimentary shuttle service is also offered to and from the shop, and a loyalty rewards program gives back 5 percent of the repair cost to be used on future repairs. Morse said they are also an authorized emissions shop.
Art Morse Auto Repair offers six months same-as-cash financing and all technicians are ASE certified. Currently, Morse said there are five highly trained techs on staff, and between the quick lube and the shop they have 15 employees.
Morse said they are currently running a complimentary winter inspection at the shop that covers 27 different points on the vehicle. The special will continue until Dec. 31.
Art Morse Auto Repair is open Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and is located at 1713 W. Main St., Battle Ground. Battle Ground Quick Lube is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and is located right in front of the auto repair shop. Elite Collision & Auto Spa is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and is located at 1701 W. Main St., Battle Ground.
To learn more about Art Morse Auto Repair, visit their website at www.artmorse.com. To make an appointment for repairs, call (360) 687-4685.
