Heppner’s expands to include a Hudson location

• Manager Dennis Auld, left, with Chad Mear, metro area general manager

Dennis Auld, left, manager of the Heppner’s Rivercity Collision Center, is joined by Chad Mear, general manager of all six Heppner locations in the Twin Cities metro area. They are celebrating a grand opening May 14 from 4-7 p.m. Photo by Margaret A. Ontl

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Heppner’s Rivercity Collision Center is hosting an open house May 14 to introduce the community to its many auto body services. The business, located at 2001 Rock Street in the St. Croix Business Park, shares the space with two other businesses, Indianhead Glass and Rivercity Autowerks.

Heppner’s was founded in St. Paul by Elmer Heppner in 1956. After nearly 30 years, Heppner sold his well-established business to Afton resident Bill Klatt. Klatt expanded the operation to include six locations, two in St. Paul, two in Woodbury, one in Inver Grove Heights and, last year, he added Hudson to the family.

Dennis Auld, manager of the Hudson location, has 25 years’ experience in the auto industry, four working the other side of the business with American Family Insurance. His love of cars started when he helped his dad’s friend build a street rod. Auld went on to technical college to learn how to do the work correctly. He and his family have lived in Hudson for 16 years.

Indianhead Glass relocated to the same building.

“To be able to partner with them and have a glass business in house streamlines the work flow,” said Auld.

Chad Mear, general manager of all six locations, is a 1987 graduate of Hudson High School and has been in the business for 17 years.

“We were able to keep all of the former employees,” said Mear.

The services include free estimates, free courtesy car, free pick-up and delivery, 24 hour/seven day-a-week towing, limited lifetime warranty, paintless dent removal, mobile estimating, glass repair and replacement.

“Once a vehicle is dropped off it doesn’t go back outside until it is complete,” said Auld. “What I love is the customer service. It’s never a good experience when the vehicle comes in because of an accident. When I can get the customer’s car back to them in better shape than before it was damaged it is a lot of fun.”

“Our philosophy is you can’t fix the car until you fix the customer,” said Mear. “That is why we cover the cost of a rental car for 10 days.”

On Thursday, May 14, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. the public is invited to the grand opening event, which will include a ribbon cutting, a demonstration of paintless dent repair, children’s activities and tours of the facility. An assortment of vendors will be on hand and there will be a guess-the-estimate game. Food and fun for the whole family will be provided.

They are also partnering with Merit Chevrolet to donate a car to WestCAP. Merit provided the vehicle and Heppner’s restored it. The presentation will be made during the grand opening.

Normal business hours are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon; closed on Sundays. For more information, call (715) 531-0662 or visit www.heppnersautobody.com.

Tags: business, hudson, auto_body, repair, heppners, rivercity, collision, center, open_house