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Managing Editor HOLYOKE On Friday, Marcotte Ford expanded its automotive service offerings with the official grand opening of Quick Lane next to its Main Street location . General manager Michael Filomeno told Reminder Publications the new business is a franchise offered to its dealerships by the Ford Motor Company and is the first in western Massachusetts. Among the services it offers are tires, brakes, oil changes, alignments, suspensions and batteries for all makes of cars, not just Fords. The new service center's goal is to complete the repairs in two hours or less, although Filomeno said that some jobs would take longer. He said the concept is a different one for car service centers and Ford Motors currently has 450 franchised locations around the country. Their goal, he added, is to have 1,000 centers by 2010. If the business proves successful, Marcotte Ford would consider opening more Quick Lane locations in the area. One major difference between this auto service center and others is that customers are allowed to walk out into the work area on a designated track to check out what is being done and to talk with the technicians. Quick Lane features eight service bays and employs 13 people. Filomeno said the service center was built on the site of the car dealership's former parts warehouse and the renovations started last August. The business was open for customers at the beginning of this year and response has been good, he said. About 70 percent of the customers have brought in non-Ford vehicles. Mayor Michael Sullivan congratulated Brian Marcotte for making this investment in the city. The service center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. pm Saturday. No appointment is necessary. | ||||||
