One-stop auto shop Jule’s Tires and Automotive Service is nearing its 20th year under the stewardship of the Palcko family.
Doreen and Garry Palcko have been co-owners of the Morrisville-based shop since 1995, and their son Bruce is one of the five technicians that provide repair, inspection, tune-up, and alignment services for cars, motorcycles, and ATVs.
His father, Garry, first started working at the shop in 1972, splitting time at the nearby steel mill, and he has since moved to working in the office, handling administrative duties with his wife.
“Doreen does all the paperwork and office stuff, like billing, receiving, yelling at me,” Palcko says.
Growing up in nearby Levittown, Garry’s father worked in television repair and his mother was a homemaker. He calls himself a motorhead during his youth, racing and fixing cars for his neighbors.
After the original owner, Julian Yakelevicz, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Palcko helped run both the shop and the office. Back then, the shop was known as Jule’s Tires, Inc. Palcko ultimately purchased the shop from Yakelevicz’s wife, and transformed it into a full-service repair shop. Most of the revenue from the former tire shop now comes from repairs, as the shop has gone from one car lift to five.
The Palcko family lives in West Amwell, and all the technicians are local.
“We can do anything the dealers can do. We do stay up with all the training, and we have the latest equipment,” Palcko says, praising the ability of his technicians to work with any car. “Cars have had computers since 1980, and they have come a long way with so many sensors on there. Everything is electronic, it’s like fixing a tv set. The guys have to have a lot of money invested in tools. The guys who have not invested are not in business. We can do anything the dealers can do.”
At the same time Palcko says it is tough for a small business to stay competitive with chain auto shops that are run by big companies with deeper pockets. In particular workers’ compensation and healthcare insurance costs are high, but Palcko tries hard to keep his employees happy.
“We have a good customer base,” Palcko says. “We don’t charge what dealers do, we don’t charge $100 an hour. We try to stay competitive to help the people too.”
Jules Tires and Automotive, 535 W. Bridge St., Morrisville, Pa. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, it can be reached at (215) 295-7141.
