Longtime auto business expands, Five Guys Lacey opens soon, a downtown biz needs help

Mike Shelstad, who has been servicing vehicles for nearly 50 years in the Olympia area, made his name on Plum Street. He then kept the name and moved his business to Cooper Point Road in 2015 and opened Mike’s Plum Street Automotive.

Business was good, so good in fact that he grew from five employees to around 15, but then found himself running out of room, he said.

The solution was to expand, and that’s what he has done, buying an existing business on Black Lake Boulevard and opening Mike’s Integrity Car Care. The business opened Aug. 1 at 3610 Black Lake Boulevard SW, not far from the lake itself.

In addition to needing to accommodate more customers, Shelstad shifted his alignments business to the new location, as well as his postal service work. Shelstad has had a longtime contract to repair U.S. Postal Service vehicles in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater, and starting next month, he will take on more postal service business from Rochester, Centralia and Chehalis, he said.

Both locations work on all makes and models of vehicles. And they have been coming to Mike a long time, he said.

Years ago, Shelstad learned the value of repeat business and treating the customer differently after a former employer made a discouraging remark about trying to make as much as he could on each customer. Shelstad vowed then that he would take a different approach to customer service.

“When they walk in, they are not a number,” he said about his customers. “They are a name.”

Many of his employees have worked for him for 10 years or longer, and now his three sons have joined the business, he said.

Mike’s Integrity Car Care is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The business also has a shuttle service.

Other business happenings

Downtown Olympia’s McCoy’s Tavern, which was damaged by a nearby dumpster fire on Sept. 2, is asking for financial assistance, according to the fundraising site Go Fund Me.

The fire, according to the fundraising post, spread to the building severely damaging the back and forcing the bar to shut down until further notice.

“Overnight all employees have lost their jobs for the foreseeable future,” the post reads. “We are hoping to have a fundraising event at a future venue. In the interim, we (are) calling on local community and anyone who can help provide assistance while McCoy’s attempts to recover and repair.”

The campaign has a $10,000 fundraising goal.

Five Guys Lacey, which can be found on Pacific Avenue Southeast near Sleater Kinney Road Southeast, is set to open at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, said an employee who answered the phone.

The Five Guys at that location is part of a growing commercial development. Chipotle Mexican Grill is next door and Mod Pizza is coming to the same site.

Community Youth Services, which serves young people, ages 12 to 24, across South Sound who may be dealing with homelessness, are in foster care, have run away, or require behavioral health support, is going to celebrate a recent renovation with a ribbon cutting, the organization announced.

“The main headquarters (on State Avenue) now boasts a warm, vibrant, and welcoming paint scheme,” the announcement reads. “The interior improvements include gender-neutral restrooms, new carpeting, enhanced building security, a new elevator, and more.”

“We realized that our main administrative building, though large and outdated, had the potential to be so much more,” said Derek Harris, CYS’ Chief Executive Officer, in a statement.

The project was made possible through a public/private partnership, which raised $1.2 million-plus from foundations, individuals, state funding and grants, according to a news release.

Harris praised the work of Artisans Group Architecture + Planning, FORMA Construction, Miller and Sons, Mink Construction, and Todd Robinson Painting.

The ribbon cutting and open house is set for 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at 711 State Avenue NE, Olympia.

During the open house, attendees can also tour the Healthy Connections Building, housing the CYS Integrated Counseling Division at 914 Seventh Ave. SE, Olympia.

“This newly purchased facility has undergone significant upgrades, all designed to provide a comfortable, accessible, and welcoming space,” the release reads.

If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.