GREENFIELD — After 38 years in business, Bill’s Auto Repair Shop and K & K Auto Sales are changing hands.
Owners of the car repair shop at 381 High St., Bill and Donna Kilgour, handed the business over to Jeremy Ainsworth as of Nov. 1.
Ainsworth and the Kilgours were in similar circles in the auto service field and “had a working relationship,” Ainsworth said. He worked at Naps Auto Sales & Service, Goly’s Garage and Cherry Rum Automotive previously to purchasing Bill’s Auto, which he has renamed Triton Automotive.
“I knew it was on the market, even though there was never a sign or anything,” he said simply. “We got to talking one day and here I am.”
Thirty-eight-year-old Ainsworth, a longtime Greenfield resident, said he decided to purchase the auto repair business to work on his own — the same reason that Bill Kilgour decided to buy what was previously Mr. B’s Autorama back in 1982.
“I decided it was time to work for myself,” Ainsworth said. “I’m very family-oriented here, I have my father working with me answering the phone, and my 10-year-old told me he wants to work for me someday.”
Having owned the property since 1982, offering automotive repair, used car sales and U-Haul rentals, Donna Kilgour said she and her husband’s decision to retire was a difficult one.
“It was a tough decision to make after 38 years of sweat and tears building the business the way it is today,” she said. “Retirement sounds good.”
The Kilgours said they feel confident leaving their business in Ainsworth’s hands.
“Jeremy is a young, energetic person who is ready to keep the shop running the same, but has more diverse knowledge and will offer more options in the repair business,” Donna Kilgour said. “He will work on any vehicle, including diesel and hybrids.”
She added that Ainsworth will welcome longtime Bill’s Auto customers as well as new customers.
Bill Kilgour will be involved with K & K Auto Sales until Ainsworth is ready to take it over or Kilgour is ready to be done, whichever comes first, Ainsworth said. Triton Automotive will do all of the prep work and warranty repairs.
“Most of my car buyers come back for maintenance work after buying a car, so I hope that will continue,” Bill Kilgour said.
Donna Kilgour said her husband called each of the customers to tell them he was retiring.
“Customers have been really receptive and decided to stay with Jeremy,” she said. “They were thankful to us. I think a lot of them knew we were trying to retire.”
In their retirement, Donna and Bill Kilgour said they will spend time seasonally in Lantana, Fla., ride their Harley-Davidson motorcycle and enjoy quality time with their grandchildren, who live in Western Massachusetts.
The Kilgours said they would like to thank all of their customers.
“For all of their years of loyalty, trust and confidence they had in this business, it will be hard losing your ‘business family,’” Donna Kilgour said. “I’ve always tried to treat everyone as I would want to be treated and I’m sure Jeremy will do the same.”
Triton Automotive will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit tritonrepair.com or call 413-774-4753.
Reach Melina Bourdeau at 413-772-0261, ext. 263 or mbourdeau@recorder.com.