Pro Car Care of Garland started like a lot of new enterprises - at the kitchen table. After spending 27 years in the service station business, Joe and Aldora Summers decided to venture out on their own and build a new business from the ground up. While brainstorming with their daughter, Gwen Thompson, the Summerses came up with Pro Car Care of Garland, and Ms. Thompson designed the logo.

Located at 5814 Broadway Boulevard in Garland, Pro Car Care opened on November 11, 1987, Mr. Summers' 60th birthday. Even open-heart surgery and a near death experience couldn't keep him away from the shop and his customers, says Ms. Thompson, who serves as marketing director for the family owned and operated business.

After Mr. Summers sudden and unexpected passing in April, Ms. Summers, Ms. Thompson and Ms. Thompson's husband Joe Thompson Sr., continue the successful legacy he left behind. "He laid a firm foundation for us to build on. We plan to carry on what he started," Ms. Thompson says.

Now, a third generation of service has stepped into the Pro Car Care family business, Ms. Thompson's 22-year old son Joe Thompson Jr., known as "JET", provides quality service to Pro Car Care's neighborhood customers. The Pro Car Care staff is proud of the fact that three generations of their family are caring for, in some instances, three generations of car customers - older parents, their children and their children's children.

The Pro Car Care team takes the full-service concept of the old fashioned service station and brings it to the "quick-lube" industry. But they don't stop there. They also offer full-service automotive repairs in a friendly, hometown atmosphere.

Among the services available are 10-minute oil changes with quality Valvoline products and most major brands and weights of oil., transmission and differential service and state inspections. They also provide a full range of vehicle maintenance and repairs, such as computerized diagnostics and tune-ups, brake repairs, complete heating and air conditioning service and repair, carburetor service and overhauls, as well as radiator service and repair.

The shop recently became a Valvoline Express Care facility and has changed up the design of the store by adding new signs, new paint and other various details. "We may look on the outside but we're still the same people on the inside," says Ms. Thompson. The Valvoline Express Care image also allows the staff to provide more quality Valvoline products and product-training for employees. "The training taught us which products were best for different kinds of customers' vehicles.," Ms. Thompson says.

Pro Car Care is also a designated emissions repair facility for repairs needed to pass a state inspection. The pros at Pro Car Care will even fix flats and change batteries. It's like a service station without the pumps! With more than 23,000 customers and over 152,000 vehicles having been serviced or replaced since the doors opened, the business outgrew it's oil change facility. In February 1996, the Lakeview Lawnmower shop, located directly behind Pro Car Care. The full service mechanical area, along with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, was moved to that facility.

At Pro Car Care, each customer receives personal attention. Your vehicle's maintenance records are recorded in the company's computer system, and all problems are diagnosed using the latest equipment by an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician. Vehicle manufacturer recalls and service bulletins are tracked through the Mitchell On-Demand Vehicle Repair Information System.

Backed by highly trained, exceptional staff members and service technicians, Pro Car Care offers quality customer service to the Garland community. Jim Russell, who has worked for the Summers family for more than 36 years, before they started Pro Car Care. Mr. Russell also earned a bachelor's of electrical engineering degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Locally owned and operated, Pro Car Care gives back to the community through support of local PTAs, civic groups, and The Garland Symphony. The business serves as an official drop off site for holiday toy drives and donates gift certificates to various school and church programs.

Pro Car Care is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information about Pro Car Care, call 972.240.8088.