Owner Talks Services and Commitment to Customer Care
Photographer / Amy Counts
Christian Brothers Automotive has a new location in Greenwood. Located on the southeast corner at the intersection of Smith Valley Road and South Morgantown Road, this friendly automotive shop opened its doors on December 9, 2019, and is the third location in the Indianapolis area.
After seeing an advertisement in a car magazine for Christian Brothers, owner Dave Barnett says he did some digging to find out more about the company. He figured that it was either a small company owned by two brothers named Christian, or it was a faith-based franchise. Luckily for him, it was the latter.
“Christian Brothers Automotive is a really strong franchise,” Barnett says. “In fact, I think Forbes Magazine ranked it as the number two franchise in the country, of all franchises, behind Freddy’s restaurant. It’s a fantastic business. It’s faith-based, and a lot people describe us as the Chick-fil-A for auto repair.”
For the last 12 years Barnett, his wife Colleene, and their two children lived in Lexington, Kentucky, where Barnett worked as a mechanical engineer and co-owner at a manufacturing company. In the early months of 2019, Barnett decided he wanted something a little different that would align his expertise, his faith and his passion for cars. That’s when he found Christian Brothers.
Barnett sold his portion of the manufacturing business, applied to become an owner for the franchise and was ultimately granted the Greenwood location.
“I got approved for the franchise in April,” he says. “We were moved here by June, the building was complete in November, and we opened December 9. It’s moved very quickly, and it’s been a whirlwind.”
As a staple of the business, the Christian Brothers staff aims to make its customers comfortable. Each lobby features leather chairs, a beverage and snack station, and a bar-high countertop that sits in front of a large window looking into the shop.
“A lot of people who walk in say this looks more like a Starbucks than an auto repair facility,” Barnett says. “We have free WIFI. We have charging ports, so for those that want to wait, it’s a very comfortable place to wait.”
Through text alerts, customers can confirm appointments, get notifications throughout the entire vehicle repair process, and receive complimentary inspections with detailed pictures and repair suggestions. To keep things running smoothly, customers can approve, decline, and pay for services right from their phone. If customers need a ride to and from work, Barnett and his staff offer a complimentary shuttle service.
“People can bring their vehicle to us in the morning, and then we’ll take them to work, to school or home, or wherever they need to go,” Barnett says. “Then when their vehicle is finished, we jump back in the shuttle and go pick them up and bring them back. So they don’t have to worry about getting a ride or anything else. We provide all of that for them.”
Barnett says the Christian Brothers staff views its role in the community as much more than just fixing cars. In fact, his mission statement for the Greenwood location focuses on loving people and helping them beyond just auto repair.
“When someone walks through that door, fixing their car is ultimately secondary,” Barnett explains. “We’re going to love that person. How can we serve that person? They’re probably having a bad day. How can we turn that day around? That’s really what we’re looking to do.”
With help from his Carquest parts representative Harvey McCann, Barnett says he is able to get parts for repairs within 30 minutes, making him confident that his team can meet deadlines and get customers back into their vehicles promptly. Barnett says that if his shop ever misses a projected deadline, he’ll offer a free rental car.
“You can trust what they say, and you will be treated better than any place you will ever go,” McCann says of the Christian Brothers staff. “Their mechanics do great work.”
Christian Brothers Automotive is located at 4985 Smith Valley Road in Greenwood. For more info, call 317-743-2763 and visit cbac.com/greenwood.
