Soon-to-Open Petaluma Car Shop is the Culmination of Mechanic's Dream

Ryan Ladd has toiled some long hard hours as an auto mechanic for parts of the last three decades.

In recent years, he's dreamed of opening his own shop.

That dream is about to become a reality.

Ladd and his wife, Lindsey, have named their soon-to-open shop "Yotaluma," a mashup the Toyota brand he specializes in and the city where he'll be doing business.

The Ladds are readying the 296 Wilson Street storefront for an anticipated Aug. 5 opening.

"This has been a dream of Ryan's for 6 years," Lindsey Ladd said.

"It's something Ryan has been dreaming of, but the timing has never been right. When the shop became available, we knew we had to jump on it. It was a fast move, but we know it's a good one."

Ryan Ladd has been an automotive technician for 17 years and a Certified Toyota Technician for more than 10 years.

He started his Toyota training at Toyota Carlsbad in 2002, moving to Sonoma a year later with Lindsey, his then-girlfriend.

He went to work at Novato Toyota shortly after moving to Sonoma, attending Toyota School in San Ramon, where he got his certification. He's also ASE certified.

In early 2012 he left Novato Toyota for OutWest Garage an independent local mechanic where "he got a first-hand look at how a 'real' auto shop runs," Lindsey Ladd said.

The Ladds now hope to put what he learned to use in their new shop.

Lindsey Ladd acknowledged that their confidence is tempered by the trepidations that any business owner experiences when launching a new venture. 

"The unknown is the most scary part of starting a business," she said. "We see a good outlook, but don't know how we are going to get to that point.

"It will just happen in its own way." 

The shop will specialize Toyota, Lexus and Scion but will service most other makes.

"Anything with a motor," Lindsey Ladd said.

"We are a family-run business that prides itself on being honest and friendly."