After 50 years, popular family auto shop business closes

KENT COUNTY, MI – The owner of a decades-old auto shop has retired and sold the business to a third party who plans to sell off loads of tools and memorabilia next week.

The former home of Parker & Son’s Garage at 5600 Wilson Ave. SW. in Wyoming is getting new life as a retro ice cream and sandwich shop, and auto mechanics and enthusiasts will soon have a chance to own a piece of the building’s history.

Orbitbid.com is auctioning off the garage’s former assets on behalf of the new owner. The online auction opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, and begins closing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.10. Early inspection is available by appointment.

“This auction presents an amazing opportunity for automotive professionals, collectors and enthusiasts to acquire high-quality tools and equipment from one of the area’s longest-running auto shops,” a statement from Orbitbid.com read.

Items to be auctioned off include hundreds of Snap-On tools such as wrench and socket sets, scanners and large toolboxes; four-post drive-on car hoists; collectible car and motorcycle parts and engines; garage memorabilia; welders; air compressors; and lawn equipment.

Third-generation owner George Parker has been taking care of the family business for over 50 years, but the history of Parker & Sons goes back much further.

Parker told MLive/the Grand Rapids Press that the business originally was run by his grandfather and father as Parker & Son until he and his brother were born in the 1950’s, at which point the shop rebranded to Parker & Sons.

Parker, now 73, said after being in business for over 50 years, now was a good time to retire.

“Fifty years is a long time to be fixing everybody else’s problems and not having time for my own,” he said, laughing.

The brick building on the corner of 53rd Street and Wilson Avenue was built around 1948 before Parker’s father bought it in 1960. But after working on his own for five years, the father attempted to sell and then lease the building.

Parker had been running a garage on 43rd Street until around 1991, when he and his brother moved the business back to Wilson Avenue building.

An anonymous business owner closed on the building for $518,000 in September, according to property records.

Orbitbid.com said the new owner plans to transform the property into a retro auto-themed ice cream and sandwich shop that would add a “unique twist” to the local dining scene.

The new owner declined to comment at the time of publishing.

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