Brad Reynolds takes

New owner Brad Reynolds, center, works on a Saturday morning with two of his part-time employees, Grant Vander Velden, left, and Luke Mellema, at the Hinote’s Corner station. (Calvin Bratt/Lynden Tribune)

Automotive is not new — being an independent operation is

By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com

LYNDEN — Athough he is the new owner of Marlin’s Auto Service, Brad Reynolds is hardly a newcomer to the area and to the automotive business. He grew up in the Ever son area, and both he and his dad, Ralph, worked for Diehl Ford of Bellingham. “So I’ve just grown up around cars in this business,” he said. “I started at Diehl Ford washing cars at age 16.” In fact, it was directly from Diehl — after a stint in construction proving that it wasn’t for him — that Reyn olds came last summer to this shop at Hinote’s Corner to be a mechanic and see if a buyout could happen. Mar lin Hendricks had been the owner since 1978, running the operation with his wife Linda. A retirement open house for Marlin and Linda was held at the station Feb. 8 and it was a busy three hours of customers and friends coming by to wish them well. That event was “great” in terms of seeing the out pouring of appreciation for Marlin and the service giv en there at 899 E. Pole Rd. across the years, Reynolds said. He intends to keep the familiarity of Marlin’s name with the business. And while Marlin and Linda leave, their daughter Stephanie contin ues to do the books for the business. Reynolds said the main thing that is new to him at Marlin’s Auto Service is be ing an independent shop, not tied to a certain brand of vehicle and the warranties that go along with that. He is retaining all the employees from before. “The same people are still in place doing their same jobs,” he said. Two mechanics have more than 25 years of expe rience. Any changes for now will be “pretty much cosmet ic,” Reynolds said. The facilities are adequate to “grow the business” and that is his objective. Brad and his wife, Casey, and their three chil dren live in Nooksack.