New business opens in RR

Ken Johnston

The garage doors opened for the first customers last Thursday at Kreger Sales and Service in Rainy River.
Renovations were about 95% done last week to the former Koeneman Lumber factory when owner and operator put up his new signs. Not long after Kreger’s first customer came a calling. “Mark Nault came in and said he was going out of town and needed an oil change and asked when I was going to open. I thought about it and said right now!”
Kreger said he thought about delaying the opening until everything was 100% done but then decided this will help him work any bugs out of the system should they arise.
His mechanic, Jacob Penner, started last week and a steady stream of work was starting to flow in on Friday. Penner worked at Fred Klug’s in Emo and later West End Motors in Emo.
Kreger’s business will not just be servicing vehicles. He has also purchased a paint booth which arrived in crates on Friday. He spent the weekend assembling it and plans to have a bodyman on staff starting this week.
The building has a reception area just inside the southwest door. It also offers a furnished waiting room with a t.v. and coffee for customers while they wait. The main shop has been divided in half, one side for servicing vehicles and one for doing body work.
Arriving this week will be cars from rent from Enterprise. Kreger said he has his first rental this Wednesday.
He is also excited about his recent inspection by Auto Value Parts. Rather than just being a parts store he has been inspected and approved as an Auto Value Service Centre. He has brought in a huge inventory of parts for people to buy including filters, belts, brake parts, etc. He is also carrying a full line of Michelin Tires but can also order other types of tires. He said if he does not have the part as long as he orders by 4 p.m. he will have the part the next morning.
Kreger said he worked many long days since the renovations began just after New Years and is relieved it is ready to go.
He said in the spring he will do some work to the lot and plans to sell used cars once his dealer license comes through.
He is open Monday to Friday at present and can be reached at 852-AUTO (2886).