Staff photo by Hannah LaClaire (From left) Logan Pond, Derek Thompson, Lisa DeLoid, Al Dwire and Wesley DeLoid of Charlie's Auto Services in Amherst

AMHERST – Ever since Wesley DeLoid was old enough to “tinker around with stuff,” cars have fascinated him.

As he grew up, he was able to turn that passion into a career and now owns Charlie’s Auto Service in Amherst with his wife, Lisa DeLoid.

Even now, more than two decades into owning the business, “it feels like more than a job sometimes,” he said, explaining that he still finds the fun in working with cars.

“It’s the coolest job because every day something comes in broken and it leaves fixed,” he said.

Everyone in the shop – everyone in the business, DeLoid said – have the same passion for it.

“We’re all car guys,” he said. “Your heart has to be in it.”

In part, this is because “you deliver bad news every day.” Nobody wants to hear they need to pay hundreds of dollars to have a car part replaced, but working at Charlie’s, DeLoid said he at least knows he’s providing the best service he can and is being honest with his customers.

“I don’t want to have to hide from people in Shaw’s,” he said.

Part of the success of his business, which he bought in 1994 from Charlie Baldic, who had owned it since 1976, is the personalized service.

“The customer can talk right to the mechanic and know their pay doesn’t depend on a sale,” he said.

Charlie’s Auto Service is a “one-stop shop,” Lisa DeLoid said, with full-service, major engine repair, computer diagnostics and more. They are check engine light specialists and also have experience working with classic cars. The only thing they don’t do is auto body repair.

“We’re mom and pop, but we’re extremely technical,” Wesley DeLoid said, adding that watching the evolution of technology since he started at Charlie’s in 1983 has been one of the best parts of the job.

A typical day can vary from up to 100 oil changes or one or two cases of more serious repair work.

Either way, “it’s never not busy,” Lisa DeLoid explained, which is why they encourage

appointments.

Charlies Auto Service is located at 102 Route 101A and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 603-889-2376 or visit www.charliesnh.com.

Hannah LaClaire can be reached at 594-1243 or hlaclaire@nashuatelegraph.com.

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