Schulz Service Center celebrates 40 years

Schulz Service Center celebrates 40 years

Family-owned business repairs anything with an engine

By Andrea Iglar

Darryl Schulz has changed gears a lot during his 40 years in business.

But one thing, he said, has remained the same: “We fix stuff.”

Schulz repairs anything with an engine—cars, trucks, motorcycles, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, lawn mowers and more.

Darryl Schulz has been in business for 40 years.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

“We have tooling to fix anything,” Schulz said. “We have been doing that for years, and I haven’t lost sight of that.”

The four-acre, 18,000-square-foot Schulz Service Center on Morgan Hill Road in South Fayette houses three branches: Schulz Truck & Auto, Schulz Cycle & ATV and Schulz Lawn & Garden.

“We specialize in everything,” general manager Amanda McCreary said, noting every department has an expert technician.

Darryl Schulz shows various types of vehicles that can be repaired and maintained at his service center, including riding lawn mowers, cycles, all-terrain vehicles, trucks and cars.

Submitted photo

At the heart of the multifaceted, independently owned and operated business is Schulz himself.

Growing up in Shaler among a family of mechanics, Schulz always was fascinated by engines. As a kid, he would tear apart lawn mower engines for fun and put them back together. As a teen, he would fix dirt bikes in the neighborhood, and then he moved on to bigger vehicles.

At age 18 he started his own repair business, operating in Hopewell, Presto and then South Fayette, where his family has lived since 1988. The shop moved into the Morgan neighborhood in 2004.

“All through the years, I just kept progressing,” Schulz, 58, said. “It’s amazing, everybody looks for people to fix things.”

This year, Schulz celebrates four decades in business.

McCreary said she began visiting the service center with her father when she was four years old, and then became an employee during college. Over the years, she has observed that Schulz cares about customers and community.

“I think that’s why he’s been in business for 40 years,” McCreary said. “It’s that side of, ‘I’m going to give back and I actually, genuinely care,’ that I think keeps us rolling.”

Mechanics and office employees join owner Darryl Schulz, center, in front of the service center in August.

Submitted photo

The business employs about 20 people, from mechanics to office staff, and Schulz said the diverse set of skills and talents makes the team strong.

Schulz said technicians are rewarded for being knowledgeable and efficient, not for finding more problems when they look at a car.

“Customers bring their vehicle here trusting you’ll do a good job, so do a good job,” he said.

For peace of mind, mechanics send customers pictures and videos of defective parts along with their estimates, and they send follow-up footage once a new part is installed.

Truck and auto technician Caleb Valduga works on the engine of a Ford F-550 at Schulz Truck & Auto in August.

Submitted photo

While he is a successful business owner, Schulz thinks of himself mainly as a mechanic, and he constantly reads up on new technology.

“I take a lot of pride in it," he said.

He also prides himself in training newer mechanics through an apprenticeship program and involvement with local vocational schools.

Schulz Service Center repairs and inspects personal vehicles; maintains commercial fleets; rebuilds diesel and gas engines; works on motorcycles, dirt bikes, all- and utility-terrain vehicles, trailers and all brands of lawn equipment; and sells Husqvarna brand lawn tractors and power tools.

The company also sponsors a cycle racing team, a sport that has earned Schulz trophies over the years.

“That’s been a key thing that has driven me to keep pushing and keep growing,” Schulz said.

The showroom at Schulz displays Husqvarna brand power tools, such as chainsaws and string trimmers.

Submitted photo

The business is known for handling hard jobs and has gained a loyal customer base due in part to their expertise.

Service manager Jean DiPietro said repeat business comes from multiple generations, with teenagers of existing customers bringing their cars to Schulz when they start driving.

“We see the same faces, they see the same faces,” she said. “You build trust with them.”

Schulz said overall, he just tries to be honest and treat people the way he wants to be treated.

"That’s really been a great business plan that works for us, and people appreciate that," he said.

Schulz Service Center, 106 Morgan Hill Road, South Fayette: 412-257-3188; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; schulzbridgeville.com.