In 2008, Kody Schuster went to a hiring event at a Firestone Complete Auto Care in Monroeville.
It was a tough time to find a job, he said, even in the trades. He had always worked on cars he owned, so he gave it a try.
Automotive work stuck with him.
Now, his full-service shop, Schuster Automotive, along Freeport Road in Harrison is in its ninth year.
Schuster, 37, said he runs his business on the basis of fair prices for good work.
“There’s no fire and smoke. There’s no, ‘Hey, if you buy three oil changes, I’m going to give you one free.’ It’s just the best price right down in there,” Schuster said. “I’ve never tried to be like something that we’re not — we’re not a chain place, you know. … I don’t think that people around the A-K Valley want to deal with that.”
The business model seems to be working for him.
“Most of my business is all repeat customers and word of mouth,” he said.
He went to Rosedale Technical College for his mechanics certificate while working at Firestone.
After that, he worked at W.L. Roenigk tires in Harrison, where the idea to open his own shop started to form.
“That’s where I really started meeting people around the community and making friendships and customers,” Schuster said.
In 2016, Schuster took the leap and bought what was formerly Wally’s Auto Service in Tarentum. He opened it as Schuster Automotive in 2017. In 2022, he moved his growing business to Freeport Road in Harrison.
While working at the tire shop, Schuster showed up and worked hard, setting the tone for his career as a mechanic, said his longtime friend and mentor Shawn Creevey.
“The kid fought for everything in his life,” Creevey said. “Whatever he puts his mind to, it happens.”
The two worked together for several years at the tire shop.
“Kody was one of the ones that was young and hungry,” Creevey said.
Creevey said it made perfect sense for Schuster, who he calls a little brother, to set up his own shop.
While modern life changes, so does the auto industry.
Schuster said many shops are beginning to specialize, with some focusing on electric cars and others only doing diesel. He said he tries to keep up with classes and workshops offered by various auto shops.
Another change, he said, is dwindling interest in the trade.
“It’s not common for new people to be coming into (automotive work) as owner-operators,” Schuster said. “There’s just a lot of overhead. It’s hard. Every time you turn around, you have to buy new tools. You got to update your scanner — it’s kind of a catch-22 business.”
He said he is facing a hurdle in finding and retaining employees and is seeking a part-time mechanic.
“Mechanics were always overlooked,” he said. “I think now people are starting to actually really fully realize, ‘Wow, that’s an essential job.’ ”
He hopes more young people will join the trade.
“There’s no better training than to be in a shop learning every day,” he said.
Schuster, a Freeport native who lives in Fawn, said he’s proud to be part of the Alle-Kiski Valley.
“You build relationships with people. You do what you can to help them in any way, shape or form,” Schuster said. “I’ve always treated everybody the best I could up front.”