Ellington

Signal Mountain resident and Adams Automotive and Performance owner Steve Adams is holding a grand opening celebration at the new location of his full-service auto repair shop and auto parts “convenience store” Monday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The former accountant has operated an auto repair business part-time out of his home garage near the Sequatchie County line for 20 years.

“As we grew I had to hire someone who would work in the garage while I was at my job,” said Adams, who recently decided to retire early at age 48 from his position at a local insurance agency to concentrate on his auto repair business. “I wanted to follow my passion with automobiles. Going from one career to another is a big change, but I grew up on a small farm working on vehicles, and it’s something I’ve always done.”

When he discovered the former Eberle Tire building was vacant, he decided to move the business from his home and pursue his passion full time.

“I’m financially stable and didn’t need to work in the corporate world,” said Adams, a 20-year resident of Walden’s Ridge who wanted to keep his business in the community. “[The new location] has great visibility, and it’s right here in the center of such a great supportive community.”

Adams Automotive is a full-service repair shop for import and domestic cars as well as diesel trucks and high-performance cars, said Adams, who has been drag racing with a team on the weekends for 30-plus years.

“It’s my understanding no one up here specializes in diesel trucks,” he said, adding that Adams Automotive is also the only source for auto parts on Walden’s Ridge.

Adams said he partners with Auto Zone to offer an auto parts “convenience store” at the shop, with a selection including items many customers replace themselves, such as batteries, filters, brakes, fluids, chemicals and wiper blades. A limited selection of tires is also available and may be expanded in the future.

“Auto Zone delivers parts up here numerous times a day, so if we don’t have something in stock, we can order it and have it within the hour in most cases,” said Adams, who also emphasized that his prices are affordable and comparable to shops located in the valley.

The grand opening event is an opportunity for customers to meet the owner while enjoying discounts on repairs. Sunny 92.3 will be holding a live remote broadcast during the event, and the Auto Zone Grill will be on hand to provide free hamburgers and hot dogs to customers.