A successful Venture, says garage owner as he sells
FORTY years of owning Venture Garage in St Peter’s has been a ‘successful venture’, retiring owner Mike Jeffreys has said.
He bought it in 1981 from the late Eustace George Tostevin, known as George, who built it in the 1950s.
New owner Chris McClean has run the premises for 20 years, so it is in familiar and capable hands.
Mr Jeffreys said: ‘George worked there until he retired, when I took it on. My wife, Gwen, was always in the office, doing all the admin and paperwork. There was a considerable amount in those days.’
Mr Jeffreys specialised in crash repair and body shop work.
‘I still restore cars. I’ve been retired a few years now, but I’m very much a keep-busy person. I enjoyed lots of sports and have been involved in the parish as procureur, constable, douzenier, and with Styx.’
Many memories were forged in four decades.
‘Once I sold a BMW 2002 – the model, not the year – to a person who paid us in flower cheques. When taking off, his foot got stuck under the accelerator, which we didn’t know until later. We were all crying with laughter, he wasn’t a young man but he whizzed away. It’s always stuck in my mind. That and the snowy years of ’86 or ’87.’
Cars have changed significantly.
‘You used to see the engine and know what it all does. Now it’s an absolute mystery. Of course, now electric vehicles have come in. My wife’s got one, it’s cracking.’
Mr Jeffreys has always said that everyone who comes on site is as important as the one who came before.
‘Gwen and I wish Chris and his team continued success. It’s been a very successful venture, if you forgive the pun, right from the off. We are very pleased we bought it and worked at it.’
The handover went through court at the end of June.
Mr McClean said: ‘I took over in 1999 or 2000 with my business partner, Craig Wilson.
‘We started selling Japanese imported cars down at Barras Lane in a cow shed. We looked around all the garages then and thought this one was best.’
Success was attributed to loyal customers.
‘Not much has changed, except we now have computer gear to code keys to get into cars. We have a great loyal customer base.
‘Our pet store has gone amazingly well, which Martine Middleton runs. We’ll be carrying on as we are.
‘We might renovate at some point, but we’ll see where the markets take us.’
