After nearly two years closed, the former Colligan and Sons garage at 117 Albany Street has reopened with a new owner and new name.
Al’s Automotive, owned by Al Giangolini, opened last Monday, Oct. 2, and will offer local residents general mechanical services, tires, batteries, oil changes, air conditioning recharges and, eventually, state inspections.
Giangolini has been a mechanic since 1961, and has lived in the Syracuse area for more than 40 years, including about 25 years in the greater Cazenovia area. He previously owned his own heavy duty repair shop, worked with Caz Limo as their mechanic and eventually merged his shop with their business. For the past six years, Giangolini has been a mechanic at Kellish Tire and Auto in Pompey Center.
“I’ve been in this business a lot of years and if you’re not honest you’re not going to get business; if you’re honest, people will be happy and come back,” he said of his basic business philosophy.
Giangolini decided to open his own shop in Cazenovia after the Colligan’s location became available because it is a great location and he wanted to go back to having his own business. He also said many of his customers at Kellish were Cazenovia residents, so opening a shop in Caz made sense in that aspect as well.
Colligan and Sons, owned by Barb Colligan, who still owns the buildings and property, was run by David Campbell, who died in January 2016. Colligan was not sure what she wanted to do with the property after Campbell died but, after dealing with some municipal issues with the village, decided to reopen the garage.
Before hanging out his “Open” sign last week, Giangolini cleaned up the buildings; he is also preparing to add a new, bigger auto lift so he can work on larger trucks and is about to repaint the building interior. He said the old gas pumps in front of the shop will also be removed “in the near future.” The awning will most likely stay up, he said.
Joe Lazarsky, a Fenner resident and owner of Empire Buffalo, said he is excited that Giangolini has set up shop in Cazenovia. “Al is the only one I let work on my car,” Lazarsky said. “He knows his stuff.”
Al’s Automotive is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call the shop at 315-655-9211.
