Bridgewater Mechanic Keeps Family Shop Running Amid Coronavius

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — With fewer people taking their vehicles out to be fixed, John Salvatore of Bridgewater is taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe and keep his family-run business, Salvatore Automotive Service, afloat amid the new coronavirus outbreak.

"In the beginning we didn't slow down too much since people were stuck at home and saw this as an opportunity to get their cars fixed," Salvatore said. "But as time went on we definitely slowed down to half the amount of work we used to get."

Salvatore's great grandfather Joe started Salvatore Automotive Service at 302 Lincoln Blvd. in Middlesex in 1982. Before Salvatore’s father John took over. Now John Jr., a Bridgewater-Raritan High School graduate, is in line to keep the family in the business.

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The shop has already been implementing special precautions to help keep everyone safe including wearing masks and gloves.

"If people need it we will pick up and drop off their car, if they are local," Salvatore said. "We will also come out to your car and get the car so you don't have to come in office. And we will take credit card payments over the phone. When we are done with all of our cars we Lysol them and disinfect anything we have touched including the steering wheel and outside handles."

Essential workers are still coming into the shop to have work done but the amount of work has still slowed down for Salvatore. He wants to reassure locals they are taking safe precautions and that this is a good time to take advantage of to get those repairs done.

Luckily for Salvatore the auto shop also has a Valero Gas Station.

"We are fortunate that we have a lot of businesses that come to us," Salvatore said. "They are keeping us going because the general public is not driving."

For more information on Salvatore Automotive Service call 732-560-0896, visit salvatoreauto.com or facebook.com/salvatoreauto.

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