New Monmouth Junction Garage a Dream for Owner and Family

At a time when the country's economic woes have left most people afraid of taking financial risks, a Monmouth Junction resident has turned his love of working on cars into an opportunity to pursue his dreams.

Jeff Nagy, who has lived in South Brunswick since 1989, opened Jeff's Garage on Jan. 2, after working as a heavy equipment mechanic for the New Jersey Department of Transportation for 21 years.

"I love working on cars and did a lot of side work for people, so I decided it was time to open up my own place," Nagy said.

Nagy, as owner and mechanic, works on all makes and models of cars and trucks, both foreign and domestic, gas and diesel. He said the decision to leave the DOT to chase after his dream was a difficult one, made easier by the support of his wife Wendy and daughter Delaney.

"It's a little bit scary when you're leaving a job after 21 years where you're guaranteed a paycheck every two weeks," Nagy said. "I was scared, but it's been good so far and we've been busy, so that's nice."

Nagy said the biggest challenge of opening up a small business has been getting the word out about the garage in order to attract new customers. In addition to launching a web site, Nagy has also handed out business cards and has relied on help from customers.

"Everyone says that I'm honest and I do good work, so word of mouth has helped," he said. 

While still in its infancy, Jeff's Garage has allowed Nagy to spend his days doing what he loves.

"I really just enjoy working on vehicles the most, that's why I started this," he said.

Because launching a small business is a challenge in and of itself, Nagy said choosing his hometown as the location for Jeff's Garage was a no-brainer. 

Located at 3939 Route 1 South in Monmouth Junction, the site of the garage has allowed Nagy to continue to service the vehicles of those who already know and trust his work.

"It's nice that a lot of people who I did work for on the side have come to the garage for service," he said. "That's why I wanted to stay local. I didn't have to establish my reputation in a new town. People here know I’m honest and I do quality work."

The garage's web site also allows customers to have their own personal car care page, which provides information about each car, including recalls, service bulletins and recommended maintenance. Whenever an online appointment is made with the garage, the service history is added to the car's page for customers to review any time, which makes the car easier to sell, according to Nagy. 

Jeff's Garage is also a true family business, as Nagy is the sole mechanic and daughter Delaney answers phones, does paperwork and travels to pickup parts. Though still in his first month of operation, Nagy said his goals for the garage are simple.

"I would hope that this will grow, but I just want to make a decent living getting to work on vehicles," he said.

Jeff's Garage is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information call 732-821-2886 or visit the web site for Jeff's Garage at www.jeffsgaragenj.com.