The only thing foreign about Eastside Foreign Auto Clinic is the fact that its family business mascot, Axle, attracts foreign customers. Well, at least faraway customers from say, Traverse City. But, for a Lansing-based, family-owned auto repair shop, that’s pretty impressive.

Eastside Foreign Auto Clinic’s name belies its service. Dean and Debbie Lewis purchased the business from its previous owner, John McDaniels, over 25 years ago. Once at the helm, the two changed the name in order to attract clientele for its specialty service of foreign automobiles. But as their exceptional reputation for ethical, reliable service grew, so did the business.

They still repair the more difficult-to-service foreign autos, but this staff of four (and a half, or a dog to be precise) auto clinic has earned an exemplary reputation for their ability to repair just about any vehicle with the same family-style treatment that one might expect from a dependable friend.

Battling beliefs that auto repair shops take advantage of unwitting customers, Eastside Foreign Auto Clinic has a reputation for being as trustworthy as man’s best friend. Their springer spaniel, Axle, serves as a constant reminder of their untarnished reputation for treating their customers like family. Axle is always in the shop, and he is as docile and unassuming as his owners. Appearing in the shop’s Yellow Book ads, Axle’s owner, Dean, graciously states, “We don’t advertise much anymore, because most of our clients come from word of mouth and years of repeat business. They know us, and they know we’ll treat them, and their cars, well.”

Particularly in this unpredictable economic climate, this is a good position to claim. Admittedly, they are feeling the hit of the economy like the rest of the world, but Dean jokes, “That’s okay; when the shop gets quiet, we send Deb out dressed up in her inflatable tire costume onto Kalamazoo Street to drum up a little business.”

This good humor serves Eastside well. “After 28 years of marriage, we rely on a light heart to keep things running smoothly at the shop.” says Deb. They have certainly found a way to make the business work. Dean’s brother and nephew complete the team, and Dean impresses upon everyone that, “It’s all about good customer service.” They live by this creed, too.

They offer complimentary pickup and delivery for their clients, and when necessary Dean offers his own car to a customer in need. “I even plow my customers’ driveways on occasion,” he says. Dean says he is “ecstatic when customers call and I make sure they know that.” Eastside embodies the meaning of a family-run business treating customers with family values, especially during a time when the Lansing community needs it most.

Dean began working as a business manager before buying the shop back in 1982 from McDaniels and that is still his role today. Like any business with few employees, they all wear many hats. Deb, of course is the “inflatable tire,” but she also is the bookkeeper, chauffer, parts manager and the overall bright light that greets the customers when everyone else is busy.

Their customers range in age and occupation from long-time business executives and downtown workers to college students. Clients come in from Okemos, Holt, Mason and some from as far away as Traverse City. This particular woman was in town for a seminar at the Kellogg Center and she came in one morning with her car exclaiming, “I’m here, because I saw your ad in the Yellow Book pages, and I just had to bring my car to a place that puts their dog in their ad!”
Axle is not always the reason Eastside continues to bring in new customers and maintains a healthy repeat customer base, but he adds to the levity of their shop. Eastside strives to turn the otherwise inconvenient chore of car repair into a relatively easy errand. They go beyond that, however, by doing whatever it takes to make new customers happy and keep the existing customers coming back.

As we move into the second quarter of 2009 and an historical recession, Eastside brings a healthy lesson to local businesses here in Lansing: Treat your customers like family and let’s weather this storm with a lighter heart and hope for a brighter future.