By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | September 18, 2008
Derek Coombes, left, talks to Karl Dumas, with the City of Fairfield, in the future home of his Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting franchise in the newly built Horizon Business Park in Fairfield. The park consists of three buildings and Maaco is the first tenant for the project. Photo by Brad Zweerink
FAIRFIELD - The latest addition to Fairfield's business scene is Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting, a national chain that is opening its first location in the city.
The company has signed a lease to occupy four units of the newly built Horizon Business Park off of Air Base Parkway. Owners said it is expected to open in late December or early January.
Maaco is a 'niche auto body repair' business, said franchisee Derek Coombes. He said the company specializes in repainting and minor to moderate body work.
'If there's a wreck on the side of the road that has to be put on a truck, that car wouldn't go to Maaco,' he said.
Because of its niche, Coombes said Maaco offers a faster process and significantly lower prices than traditional auto body shops.
Not dealing with wrecked cars spares the company the need to buy certain types of equipment, reducing overhead, and speeds up the overall process, he said.
'It is run almost like a factory production line,' he said. 'The faster you turn around, the lower your price can be.'
Maaco operates about 475 stores nationwide, company spokesman Bill Silverman wrote in a statement. The Horizon location is Fairfield's first, but the company already operates one location in Vacaville.
See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.
