Polk, Pennsylvania, is located about halfway between Erie and Pittsburgh. Ralph’s Garage, at 501 Main Street near Sandy Creek Road, has been a family-owned general automotive and truck repair facility since 1963.
Randy Myers is the owner. He started fixing cars when he was 14, and always had a love for the automobile. Randy’s family has always been big in racing, attending at least two NASCAR races each year and sponsoring his two boys racing crate late models in the local area.
Randy’s family took over the business in 1992 when business founder, and Randy’s father in-law, Ralph Aylesworth, decided to retire. Ralph passed away three months after his retirement. Today, the business retains the “Ralph’s Garage” name in remembrance of him.
Ralph’s Garage remains at the same location on the outskirts of Polk since its inception nearly 50 years ago. The original building was a one-bay repair shop and gas station dating back to 1928. In 1996, the present building, with five service bays, was built over the original shop. The business remained open while construction continued. When finished, the old building was torn down in sections inside of the new building.
Whether it’s a personal car or a fleet vehicle, Ralph’s has the ability to repair any vehicle on the road. “We’ll fix anything,” says Randy. The business also serves as a Pennsylvania State Inspection Station.
Ralph’s Garage strives to treat customers like a valued asset. This includes pickup and delivery of a customer’s vehicle, and taking the time to show customers the defective components found on their car. “Our scheduling is fairly fast, with a turnaround time of three to seven days,” says Randy. “But we’ll do our best to take care of any customer with an unforeseen breakdown, or emergency, that requires our services.”
Of the five employees at Ralph’s Garage, three are ASE-Certified in Heating and Air Conditioning. Three employees are certified in state inspection and one employee is certified in emissions inspection. Ralph’s will pay for their employees to further expand their automotive education, and encourages them to attend automotive education seminars, such as JASPER Technical Clinics, when they are scheduled for their area.
When it comes to using JASPER quality products, Ralph’s Garage has purchased remanufactured engines, transmissions, differentials, transfer cases, and the occasional marine engine, for the past 15 years. Randy likes the way JASPER stands behind the product with a nationwide warranty. “JASPER is a product I feel I can trust,” he added.
As for the future, Randy would like to expand his customer base, though he says his building is about as big as it can get. Still, Randy says he enjoys people, and some of his friends were initially customers of Ralph’s Garage. “I try to take care of the customer in the best possible way I can,” says Randy, “while still making a living for my family and my employees.”
