A new car carried a price tag of $900 and the cost of a gallon of gasoline was 15 cents the year Scates Inc., Automotive Repair & Service opened at 318 Airways Blvd., August 15, 1943.

Fast-forward 75 years, and the family-owned business, located at 382 Airways Blvd., has closed.

“My wife, Ann and I, have five grandchildren – three in Knoxville and two in Jackson, and when you run a business you have to commit 100 percent to it,” Phillip Evans said, “And when you’re our age, there’s things more important than running a business.”

Phillip said the business first opened in the vicinity of where Kenny Pipe and Supply is now located on Airways Boulevard.

In 1984, Scates Inc., moved into its 12,000-square-foot facility at 382 Airways Boulevard.

“The business was started in 1943 by Ann’s grandfather, and when Ann’s father and her uncle returned from the war, they came to work and bought (grandfather) out,” Phillip said, “In 1973, I came to work for them and did radiator repair work.

“We weren’t in full automotive at that time, but in the early ’80s we went into full automotive repair -specializing mostly in air conditioning and cooling systems.”

“Sometime in the ’90s, her father decided to retire, and I bought out his half of the business, and it’s been Ann and I ever since.”

Phillip said it’s the customers he and Ann will miss the most.

“Our customers are some of the best in Jackson,” Phillip said, “But, we’re going to be around, and if they need questions answered, we’ll point them in the right direction.

“It’s been a good run.”

(PHOTO: Ann and Phillip Evans, Scates, Inc., 382 Airways Boulevard)
David Thomas, Twitter– @DavidThomasWNWS
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