Local business owner returns with Cheney Auto Care

CHENEY – Local business owner opens Cheney Auto Care, 107 H St., last month in the downtown area.

Chris Gallagher, owner of Cheney Auto Care, open a complete auto care business after a five-year absence from Cheney.

Gallagher returns back into the auto repair industry, bringing his expertise and passion for car care to the area.

Gallagher's journey with auto repair in Cheney began in 1997 when he opened his first garage, now the site of Basin Feed.

After a decade, he relocated to Betz Road, where he operated until selling the business in 2019. Exhausted by the challenges of managing employees and the day-to-day demands of the industry, Gallagher decided to step away.

"I got burned out," Gallagher said. "I traveled all over, including South America and Phoenix, where I tried my hand at construction. For the first time, I worked for other people instead of running my own shop. It was tough, to say the least."

After his travels, Gallagher returned to Cheney to visit family and discovered an opportunity to reopen his own business. "I found this place available, worked out a deal with Mike, and got to work. The building needed a lot of attention," he explained.

Gallagher invested in transforming the space by removing outdated equipment, upgrading with new tools, epoxying the floors, and repainting the walls and trusses. "It was a mess, but we got it up to speed," he said proudly.

Now back in the driver's seat, Gallagher enjoys being his own boss once more, working long hours from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and even helping customers during emergencies on weekends. "If Rogers Towing calls me about someone stranded, I'll come out and help. If parts are available, I'll repair it," he said, noting that part availability has improved significantly since the pandemic.

Looking ahead, Gallagher hopes to pass the business down to his son. "He's a decent mechanic and wants his own shop someday," Gallagher shared.

For now, Gallagher is happy to be back in Cheney, doing what he loves. "It's a good feeling to be here, but I know I won't be doing this forever," he said. "For now, I'm here to help the community and enjoy the work."