Stan's Service changing hands next month

A longtime Hartley mechanic will hand over the keys to the next generation April 1.

Stan Jacobs last Friday announced the sale of Stan's Service to Stephen and Kelly Embrey. Jacobs has owned and operated the business on Highway 18 with his wife, Bonny, since 1984.

"A goal of Bonny and mine for the future of this shop has always been to keep it a service and repair shop, and we just decided the timing is right," Stan said. "When these guys approached us, we thought why not?"

The Embreys own and operate SK Repair+ on the southeast edge of Hartley. They plan to keep that shop open while simultaneously running Stan's Service once they officially take over next month.

"This one isn't going to change a whole lot as far as what Stan's been doing throughout the years like maintenance, exhausts and stuff like that," Stephen explained. "I'm going to keep the big stuff out there for jobs like motor swaps, rebuilds and those types of things."

The Embreys plan to keep Stan's "brand" alive when ownership changes.

"It's going to stay as Stan's Service for a while," said Kelly. "We're keeping the legacy going."

The Embreys have hired Billy-Jo Hebb to run the Highway 18 location.

"When I'm not tied up with big jobs going on at the other shop, I'll be floating back and forth," Stephen said.

• 'They never kicked me out'

Stan's memories from the shop extend well beyond the years he's owned it. He always hung out there when he was growing up, eventually purchasing it from then-owner Kevin Snider four decades ago.

"I could tell you about a lot of things that I probably shouldn't," he said with a laugh. "I always had something going on in this place growing up. Evidently I wasn't too much of pest because they never kicked me out."

Both Stan and Bonny played vital roles in keeping the shop humming over the years – Stan under the hood and Bonny on the books.

"I was never afraid to go bill collecting," said Bonny.

Though she never received it, Bonny is probably entitled to a little hazard pay. She recalled one outing in which she was shot at while trying to collect a past-due bill.

"The cop said that he couldn't believe the guy didn't shoot me," she said. "I said well I hit the ground first! People can be weird, but that bill eventually did get paid."

The couple has witnessed a groundswell of change to the industry during their years of ownership. Stan described an ever-evolving technological landscape since he first picked up a wrench.

Over the years, he and other mechanics in town attended training sessions together at places like Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.

"That was so important and you had to have that," he said. "It's a totally new ballgame nowadays, and the amount of money you have to have in equipment is just so much."

Stan noted one thing has never changed – community support and a sense of fellowship among car shops in Hartley.

"That's one thing that's been nice," he said. "All the shops here have always gotten along well and the people have always supported us."

• 'It's time to give someone else a chance'

The sands of time started to turn the Jacobses' eyes towards retirement in recent years.

Stan is usually busy with something – whether in the shop or out towing for AAA. Bonny's schedule is also quite full juggling her duties at the shop and time with grandkids.

With the Embreys looking to expand their operation, the Jacobs felt it was time to move on.

"We were young when we started, and it's time to give someone else a chance," said Bonny.

The Embreys looked forward to keeping the business a mom-and-pop operation.

"It's a team effort," Stephen said. "It's extremely hard to run a one-man shop."

Stan and Bonny plan to stay in Hartley and carry on as they have been, minus the shop. Stan will keep towing for AAA while Bonny will maintain her busy schedule with their grandchildren.

"Maybe we'll find out what a vacation is this summer," Stan said. "Yeah, I've been thinking about retirement. But when we look around, we're still having the best times of our lives."