Upper St. Clair Man Creates Opportunity in Canonsburg

Sometimes the worst situations bring out the best in helping us discover our dreams. Jim Holtschlag was gainfully employed using his talents at a service garage for exotic cars when the owners unexpectedly sold the business and relocated it north of Pittsburgh, not including him in the move.

His situation was no different than many we’ve all heard about, or maybe even experienced firsthand. But the opportunity he chose to create from his misfortune is a perfect example that the American dream is still within reach.  

With inspiration from his father, who was an experienced and dedicated manager, and the knowledge and determination to make it happen, Holtschlag decided to take the plunge and open a service shop of his own.

“I took a big gamble,” he said. “But this was the right time in my life to do it.”

During the year and a half when Holtschlag was researching different franchises and looking for land, he was a stay-at-home dad, with his wife, Heather, working to support their young family.

He chose Grease Monkey because it is a corporation composed of independent franchisees unaffiliated with the oil companies and offers a great support network. The company allows him to choose his own suppliers and use his own personal style of management.

“Cars are what I know and I like to take care of them,” he said.

Knowing that location is one of the most important success factors for a new business, he wanted to be in a high-traffic area in Washington County and purchased a 12-acre plot along Pike Street in Canonsburg in 2009.

Thirty-thousand tons of rock had to be removed from the hillside to configure the ideal location for the building, which sits across from Shop ‘n Save at 620 W. Pike Street.

In April 2010, Grease Monkey opened for business and offers automotive maintenance services such as oil changes, fluid and filter replacement, tire rotation, wiper blades, and more. They can service cars, light trucks and larger vehicles under 14 feet in height—including limousines, conversion vans, dump trucks and even some semi trucks because of the weight-bearing capability of the floor he had installed.

Holtschlag is the franchisee as well as property owner and also a full-time employee who does everything from work under the hood to greet customers and training new employees.

“Customers appreciate that I am hands on and do the work,” he said. “I enjoy the pleasant surprise when they don’t expect the guy in the pit to be the owner.”

Having been an employee at several other companies in the industry, he gained a good bit of insight on how to run a business as well as some examples of what not to do. Now, he’s putting his knowledge to the test. “So far so good,” said Holtschlag.

Holtschlag is proud of the fact that his shop doesn’t recommend or sell anything that isn’t needed. It also builds trust by educating customers on how to take care of their cars based on the manufacturer’s recommendations to promote good performance and longevity. “I would rather have a customer for life than a high-end sale,” he said.

Holtschlag likes being in the small town of and hires local people to work in his shop, including his manager, James Moore, and Nello Construction which “did a great job” on the building.  

In just a year and a half, Grease Monkey has met or exceeded all of its expectations on its proformance projections and built up a regular customer base with 65–70 percent in repeat business.

In return, Holtschlag rewards his customers with great service plus a 10-percent discount for Ladies Day on Wednesdays and Men’s Day on Saturdays.

“All I ask for is an opportunity,” he said.

Holtschlag hopes to open another Grease Monkey in Washington County in the next three years.