Mayco “Mike” Martinez, the owner of Harbor Auto Repair II. (THG / Joseph F. Berenato. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.)
Hammonton’s newest automotive workshop is open.
Harbor Auto Repair II, located at 61 12th St., is the second of the company’s two locations; the first is located in Egg Harbor City.
Owner Mayco “Mike” Martinez said the first location opened seven years ago.
“We had a business partner and he decided to move on. I took the place, and it’s me and my brother, Gerardo. We started to work together and to build up a clientele. We do regular mechanical work, maintenance, oil changes and things like that, ”Martinez said.
Martinez was born in southern Mexico and came to the United States in 1999 at the age of 12, attending school in Atlantic City.
Martinez said he got his start in auto mechanics thanks to his stepfather, a mechanic.
“He always said to me, ‘Why don’t you come help and learn something?’ I wasn’t really interested, but one day I said, “Let me see what you’re doing. “I liked it – moving cars, removing parts – and that’s how I got involved,” Martinez said.
Eventually, Martinez’s mother and stepfather moved to Florida.
“He asked me if I wanted to move with him so that we could start something together and I could learn more. I moved there and started working with him. We used to do a mobile mechanic type thing, and it started to get a lot of customers. It was then that he opened his shop. I was helping him for a while, then I left to work for Firestone. There I was the tire guy. I progressed a bit and started doing other things like alignments. Then I wanted to learn how to weld, so I went to Midas, ”Martinez said.
A trip to visit one of his sisters who still lived in New Jersey put Martinez on his way to where he is now.
“That’s when I met my wife,” Martinez said.
Now he and his wife, Maite Peña, have two children – Ozeil, 13 and Paris, 1 – and live in Egg Harbor City.
When looking for a place to open a second location, Martinez said Hammonton was a natural fit.
“I’ve always wanted to come here. The region, the people around here are quite nice. They are nice. They help. Joe, the guy across the way, he didn’t even know me and offered to help me. I was really surprised; he helped me put my gear here. I don’t know him like that. Other people came here and greeted us Hammonton. It is a good place; I love the city. They treat you well here, ”Martinez said.
Harbor Auto Repair II held a groundbreaking ceremony at 61 12th Street on October 21, 2021. Left to right: City Councilor Jonathan Oliva, Executive Director of the Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce John Runfolo, Executive Director of MainStreet Hammonton Cassie Iacovelli , Maite Martinez, Oziel Martinez, Mike Martinez holding Paris Martinez, Hammonton Revitalization Corporation chairman Richard Rehmann and city councilor William Olivo. (THG / Kristin Guglietti. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.)
Since Harbor Auto Repair II opened in October, Martinez has said business has been going well and his customers are happy.
“I try to satisfy my customers. I have to have their cars made, because they too have a life … I love my customers and I treat them well. I try to work with them. If I can help with anything I can, I will. In my other location, I have a lot of long-term clients. I try to build relationships with them, ”Martinez said.
Harbor Auto Repair II, Martinez said, works on most cars, foreign and domestic.
“There are some concerns about German cars, but you don’t see a lot of them here because they usually go to dealerships… We do engines, drivetrain swaps, alignments, tires, brakes, catalytic converters and the like, ”Martinez said.
Martinez noted that his business has the potential to grow, but he is very happy with its location on 12th Street and all that Hammonton has to offer, especially the sense of community among residents and owners. business.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. I am here. I am ready to stay here for a long time … I really want to be part of the community. I want to help wherever I can; it is a good place. One guy said to me, ‘We only use local businesses. We support each other. Its good. This is how you keep a city alive, ”Martinez said.
For more information, call (609) 878-3524.
