Familiar Name Takes Over Family Business in Sudbury

The building at 316 Boston Post Road holds special memories for Mark Alexander.

The Hudson native and Brigham Young University graduate would often visit as a young boy, raiding the refrigerator of its Moxie, while his grandfather, Algy, would work in the garage fixing cars.

But now, it's Mark who is fixing vehicles and only a matter a time before his own kids raid the refrigerator.

Mark Alexander reopened Alexander Automotive Service in January after building a life with his wife, Krista, and two kids — Liesl, 7, and Algy, 6 — in Utah. They are expecting a second son, likely to be named Henry, by the end of March

When Mark's father, a former mechanic, mentioned his grandfather's building, built in 1957, was vacant after the last tenant suddenly left, he jumped at the opportunity to start up the family business again.

"I've always thought about my having my own shop," Mark says. "I came back to start the family business back up, and keep building it up."

With 13 years experience, Mark says he's seen enough of the good and the bad of the business to know what customers want and deserve.

"The industry has a bit of a black eye. People assume mechanics are trying to get the best of them," Mark says. "I’m here to dispel that notion, make people feel they’ve been treated fairly and get things right the first time at a very fair price. Here, they get a friendly person when they walk in the door, lots of commication as far as their car goes. I aim to make it a very straight-forward and pleasant experience for people to gain their trust."

Until the business is on its feet and able to pay the bills, Mark's family is staying out west in Utah, while Mark himself is back home with his parents in Hudson.

Mark says despite the separation from his family, the chance to reopen his grandfather's business was something he couldn't pass up. Past customers have walked up to him asking if he's related to the former owner, rekindling those old memories of the Moxie.

"When I came here a few months ago to get it ready to go, it was looking pretty run down. I was a little bit disappointed," Mark says. "I could see the potential. But there was a lot of cleanup.

"I’m very interested in getting this building back to its former glory because Sudbury is a really nice town. I want to be a part of that and make sure this building contributes rather than detracts from the look of Sudbury. I want this to be a positive part of the community rather than an eyesore."