Local auto repair shop rebuilds after devastating fire

HALFMOON, N.Y. (News10)-- Haney’s Automotive is opening up a brand new location in Halfmoon. It was built from the ground up after a devastating fire destroyed the former location two years ago when lightning struck the facility. In the wake of the devastation, one thing still remains, the heart of the business. Employees told us it still feels like family.

"Work really isn’t work when you step into Haney's Automotive," said service advisor Ethan Koper.

Koper has been working at Haney's since he was fifteen years old. 

"I brought my first truck here to get inspected, and it failed, of course," Koper laughed. "Then my dad came in, and said something to Jay about me working here. Jay offered me a job and I started sweeping the floors. In two weeks, I started working on cars, and I went to BOCES to be a technician. Jay taught me everything I need to know. So the class was just a breeze."

The night of the fire, he ran to the shop immediately. He said it was devastating to witness.

"To look over at my boss and just see the hurt in his eyes because he's been there since he was a kid," Koper recalled. "All the memories of him and his dad working together."

Jay Haney is the owner of Haney's Automotive. The business has been in his family since 1960.

"I've been in this business pretty much as far back as I can remember," Haney noted. "I remember being six, seven, eight years old, taking apart neighbors' lawnmowers."

When the shop was lost, it was more than just the shell of a structure that was missed.

"It was like losing a family member at the same time as losing a building," Haney added. "My dad, we worked together, so when the fire happened, I lost so much. Not just the building. I lost memories."

Yet through a very dark time, the community rallied around him.

"I had tons of customers and people reaching out on a daily basis asking me if we were going to rebuild," Haney recalled. "I said, of course we're going to come back better and stronger. We were able to build here and we built a much bigger facility."

Haney said the support of his team at the shop was especially important.

"One of my technicians has been with me for over 20 years. And I have another gentleman that is one of my service advisors. They were both with me every day through everything that was going on. And they were really a big help. I couldn't have done it without them."

Now, it’s time for a new chapter.

“It's been a long two years," Haney stated. "It felt like every step forward was three steps back. So to finally get here, it's just every emotion possible going through my mind.”

The grand reopening celebration is set for this Sunday from twelve to four p.m. in the town of Halfmoon at 32 Route 146.