Pitt Stop to re-open under new ownership in July 

Pitt Stop to Re-Open Under New Ownership in July

Emerge looks to add automotive mechanics to list of skilled trades offered

XENIA — A longtime local business that closed in the wake of COVID-19 is re-opening in the coming weeks under new ownership and management.

After serving area residents for nearly 40 years, Pitt Stop Tire & Auto of Xenia closed in 2021 due to a lack of skilled workers. The 828 Cincinnati Avenue auto shop remained vacant until earlier this month when Chris Adams and Kip Morris, two of the three cofounders of Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative, purchased the business. Adams and Morris plan to re-open the shop in July and offer clients state-certified training in auto mechanics.

Taking the helm as general manager of the Pitt Stop, which will retain its longtime familiar name, is Micah Steele of Mason. Steele has years of experience working with people in recovery and managing automotive shops.

The shop’s new ASE master certified technician is Daniel Volz. Both Voltz and Steele worked together to open a Firestone in South Lebanon in 2019. Both men said they have always wanted to have a ministry in which they could fix up cars and sell cars to people who are struggling. They’ve also sought to help people struggling with addiction and seeking to rebuild their lives and feel the need for skilled mechanics is only going to continue to increase.

“We decided to make this a full retail operation that will offer vocational training,” Steele said.

“This place is fully equipped with six bays. We are cleaning it up right now but everything is about ready to go. The previous owner literally left everything in place and vacated without notice.”

With Voltz on staff, the Pitt Stop will be an official ASE certified shop.

“The goal is after a year in the program, the guys that are working here will be able to take the test,” Steele said. “There are seven levels of ASE (Automotive Service Excellence). They’ll be able to test after a year of experience. Then, we will be able to get their career in auto mechanics started where they can earn a decent living.”

Voltz said there is a whole untapped work force in people who have turned their lives around.
“Pitts went down after COVID,” Steele said. “The owner retired. There was literally still lunch on the table when we came in here. He said he lost a lot of good help during COVID and closed it down. He couldn’t find good help to replace who he’d lost.”

Despite the lack of qualified help throughout the industry, Steele said there are still a lot of places that won’t hire felons.

“People make mistakes,” he said. “That’s their past. That’s not what they’re doing today. We believe people deserve second chances. With all the complaining there is in the auto industry about not being able to find technicians, more employers ought to be more open-minded to accept it. There is a whole untapped labor force of guys who want to work. However, they look them in the face and say, ‘you’re not good enough.’ That’s hard for anyone to hear. It needs to change. If we want to be honest — but by the grace of God — that could be any of us. They just got caught. That’s the only difference.”

Because of their background in ministry, Voltz and Steele said they are extremely excited about this.

“You’re essentially a life coach working with these men and women,” Voltz said. “I love seeing the light bulb go off. I love being a part of that whole process.”

Organizers at Emerge said they’ve always known automotive was going to be a big part of what they will be offering.

“There is such a huge need for good mechanics,” said Morris, who is also CEO of Five Star Home Services, one of the largest and fastest growing home service companies in the state. “We initially put in a single bay at Emerge. However, this is an opportunity to do auto mechanics at a much higher level. We’re also going to fix cars that are donated and make them available for people in recovery. This is going to be a fully functional automotive place. We will also offer affordable payments on car repairs. It will be operated like a normal business, a normal automotive center.”

For more information on Emerge, to donate or get involved contact Elaine Bonner, Director of Philanthropy at Emerge at 937.974.6120 or visit www.emergerecoverytrade.com