Nine years ago in this space, I tried to tell the story of many of the small businesses which line Prairie Street on Aurora’s West Side. Since that time, no fewer than five of the proprietors have retired or moved on, only some having been replaced by new owners. It is with much sadness that for a bout the last year, I have seen a “For Sale” sign in front of Petit Auto Care along the Prairie strip. Owners Luke Petit and his wife Sue are going to be retiring and moving to Wisconsin to be nearer to some of their grandkids. I’m really happy for the couple as they look forward to their future, but I use the word “sadness” to reference their many satisfied customers. I am one of those people. Luke Petit has been in the car repair business for 55 years. The Petits have owned their own shop for almost 45 years, with 44 years at the Prairie location. Luke has taken care of my cars now for an even 50 years. Why would anyone stay with a service person for such a long time? The answers should be pretty easy for anyone to figure out. In a 2012 story, I described Luke Petit as an expert and honest auto technician. He is one of the smartest people I have ever known, and he is honest to a fault. He is also one of the most well-rounded individuals you could ever know. He was and is a dedicated family man, and also a patriotic American with a special devotion to all of our veterans. Probably the best way to describe him: He is passionate in all the aspects of his life. I visited with Luke and Sue recently in the Prairie Street shop that is now for sale. Reminiscing about their long tenure in the repair business, as well as in their family life, brought many laughs and more than a couple of emotional memories. “Luke certainly was and is dedicated to our family,” Sue Petit said. “How many men would take their daughters to work and then drive them to preschool? I was working in Naperville, and he was ‘super dad.’” Luke quickly complimented his wife, calling her his “rock.” “My sweet Sue has backed me whether she thought I was nuts or not,” he said. “She has always had faith in me, and I never sensed that she doubted me or what I was doing. That makes all the difference in the world.” The conversation turned to a young auto tech named Paul Czinki who began working at the shop in 1999. He became part of the Petit family when, seven years later, he married the Petits’ daughter April. They are now parents to three of the five Petit grandchildren. “Paul is the best guy I’ve ever had working with me, hands down,” Luke said. “He became one of the top techs in the town, and I would put him up against anybody.” Having been in the repair business for his entire life, Luke has witnessed incredible change in the mechanical aspect of how cars are made, and also in how the repair business is run. I asked him to briefly describe the many changes. “Cars have gotten so technical now with electronics and multiple computer modules on every car,” he said. “We have to continue our education every year, and multiple times a year would be better. “It’s harder to be a small, independent shop. Dealerships are huge and it’s very hard for small shops to survive. But I don’t think they will ever put us out of business.” After a lifelong career in the repair business, I wondered if the Petits may have had any favorite customers. “My favorite customers are those who trust me, walk in and hand me their keys, and say ‘call me when it’s done,’” Luke said. “They never question the price as they know my reputation. My name left here on every job.” Before l left Petit Auto Care, maybe for the last time, I asked Luke Petit to give me a final thought as he looks back before retiring. “The good feelings are that she (Sue) and I did this together, and that we helped a lot of people,” he said. “I tried to help elderly people and poor people. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘It’s what you do when nobody is looking that shows your character.’” Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. ...read more read less