The new store opens on the site of the former Cosby’s Auto Service, which has closed in recent years after four decades in business. (Mike Platania)
Scott’s Addition industrial buildings have become coveted sites for redevelopment. But the new owners of a property on Belleville Street are bucking the trend and instead opening a refreshed version of what’s been there for decades.
Married couple Kayla and Aaron Williams are preparing to open Ironwood Automotive at 1704 Belleville St., the former home of Cosby’s Auto Service, which operated there for more than 40 years. The couple bought the 3,500 square foot building in August for $490,000.
Ironwood aims to open on October 21 and specializes in servicing Japanese auto brands Honda, Acura, Toyota and Lexus. It’s the Williams’ first venture as store owners, after Aaron worked for 14 years at another Honda and Acura store.
“I wrote a business plan a few years ago, and I was trying to rent a property and I couldn’t find anything,” he said.
In January, their broker Heather Placer, then of Long & Foster but now of Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville, alerted them to the Belleville property, which was a confidential listing. Cheryle Toy and Read Goode of Divaris Real Estate represented the seller.
Kayla and Aaron Williams (Ironwood Automotive)
“We had a first look and quickly made an offer,” Williams said. “It was something we just couldn’t pass up. We saw Scott’s Addition as an opportunity to bring auto service, the way we’d like to, to a younger community.
Ironwood aims to differentiate itself from other stores by being cleaner and more welcoming.
“We want to show people that automotive work can be done differently. It can be a clean environment, there can be no pressure and we want to make sure the women feel the same as the men who come in here,” Aaron said. “No bullying, no pressure selling. Just be somewhere people can come and learn about their car without feeling disrespected or intimidated.
Ironwood enlisted local advertising company 903 Creative to help develop its brand image, and the Williams said they were self-financing the entire project with a commercial loan from the Village Bank.
Aaron will be the shop’s chief mechanic and the couple said they are looking to hire a service advisor and mechanic.
Another auto shop in the area recently went into its own right across Broad Street from Scott’s Addition. In April, Cutshaw Automotive purchased the land it sits on at 3105 and 3117 Cutshaw Ave. for $995,000.
