Building the Valley: Lower Burrell’s Sharpe Auto Repair back in business after 2021 fire

In July 2021, Arthur “Artie” Grazier vowed to rebuild his Sharpe Auto Repair in Lower Burrell after an overnight fire destroyed his business. Almost a year later, the auto repair shop owner made good on his promise.

“The big thing was that nobody was hurt, and, that I will always be grateful for,” Grazier said. This June, Grazier not only reopened his automotive and auto repair shop along Leechburg Road, but he now has a newly painted interior, new roof and more.

“It’s been a struggle since covid-19,” said Grazier, 59, of Upper Burrell. “Then the fire hit. It is what it is.”

Given the setbacks, Grazier is happy. About 99% of his customers returned along with some new ones, he said.

“I was two weeks booked out within being open only a week,” he said.

Part of the reason Grazier could reopen at the same site is that his landlord wanted him there.

Erik Reifschneider said he wanted to rebuild because his family has owned the site since the 1940s.

First, the investigation into the cause of the fire took months, Reifschneider said.

The fire was caused by an office microwave oven that was not in use and malfunctioned, he said.

Supply chain issues for materials, particularly the trusses and the roof, slowed construction of the auto shop.

There were improvements: Reifschneider installed bigger doors that can accommodate a motor home. Previously, the mechanics had to work on those vehicles outside.

The auto repair shop building was part of a bus repair shop and another automotive business. Menzie Dairy also operated a distribution facility on the site.

The site sat vacant for more than a decade before Grazier opened his auto repair shop in 2009.

He went looking for a site after opening a shop in Arnold that, he said, was in an “unfavorable neighborhood.”

He knew Reifschneider and his family, and the timing was right.

Grazier has been tinkering with cars since he was a boy.

“I always wanted to own a car repair shop,” he said.

After he held jobs for Edgewood Steel and worked in quality control for an aluminum manufacturer, Grazier got tired of watching employers erode benefits packages to employees.

He said he was happy to continue running his own auto shop.

“I like being self-employed, and I like the people,” Grazier said.

He does have concerns about the future, he said.

“Some shops are closing down,” Grazier said. “Nobody wants to do this type of work anymore.”

There’s a greater investment in the necessary equipment and more computers to deal with. And the auto industry itself continues to change.

“Shops will need to be prepared to work with more electric cars,” Grazier said.

After getting back up and running, Grazier is ready for anything.