End of the Line for Straight Line Automotive
Cape Charles’ only service station closed on Tuesday. The property is now available for lease. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
April 19, 2013
There was absolutely no warning — and as recently as Monday it was business as usual at Cape Charles’ only gas station and full-time auto repair shop.
But when owner Mark Richardson put out the CLOSED sign by the gas pumps that evening, he called it quits. After several years operating as Straight Line Automotive, the business is closed for good.
Cape Charles regulars were stunned, since from all appearances the business was doing well. There was always activity in the repair bays, and gas sales were steady.
The business had the distinction of being one of the few gas stations south of New Jersey to provide friendly pump attendants at no extra charge. And even with the full service, Straight Line gasoline usually was priced a couple of cents below stations on the highway.
Straight Line also sold hard-to-obtain ethanol-free gasoline, preferred for outboard motors and small engines.
It was apparent to any regular customer that Richardson sweated the details, and his closing was no exception. Call the station number (757-331-1303) and you’ll hear a detailed message of concern from Mark for his customers.
“I’m afraid we’re ceasing operations,” he begins, and then provides names and phone numbers for a tire shop and other auto repair shops.
Richardson told the Wave that he wanted folks to know that nobody had forced him to close. “I was not actually shut down,” he emphasized. “I’m just not a business person — it was nobody else’s fault.”
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According to a sign on the door of the office, the property is now available for lease. (Call Geraldine Carpenter at 757-331-2910.)
Richardson hinted that he might stay in the automotive repair business, working for someone else. “Perhaps we’ll be able to be reacquainted down the road,” he said.
Regarding the abrupt closure, he said he wished there could have been “a graceful way out,” but it just didn’t happen that way.
So what happens next? Given the amount of business Straight Line enjoyed, it seems certain that another entrepreneur will reopen the shop.
In fact, just next door the Shore Treasures convenience store was reopened by a family with ties to two Northampton County gas stations.
Maybe they will make it three?
That is terrible news!
The best mechanic I’ve ever worked with.
So sorry to hear this. He ran a filling station the way it should be done. I made it a point to get my gas there whenever i was in town. Hope someone continues the business with the same level of service that Mark provided.
We will miss Mark and his capable presence!
Aside from being hard to make laugh, what was to complain about Mark? He even made a house call for us once when my wife’s keys got locked in her trunk and the electronic trunk lock malfunctoned, so there was no way (for us) to open the trunk. Good work at a fair and fully explained price. Just between you, me and everyone who reads this, if he has financial problems, maybe some of us townspeople could come together to float him a low or no interest loan.
Mark really cared about his customers. He was honest and forthright and passionate about his work and making sure he and his staff did the best job possible. I went to him for years and will sorely miss his customer service. He was always aware of his customers’ tight budgets and never did unnecessary work. Whoever is smart enough to hire him, I’m going there!
Mark was so wonderful to me when I experienced car trouble on a visit from NJ two years ago. I’m so sad to hear that Straight Line won’t be there this July.
Mark fixed my van-old fashioned American style- and it ran better with his ‘patch’ on it than it did after the dealership fixed it.
He will be truly missed, and I hope that he finds success and happiness in the future, whatever he may do.
A great lost for the town of Cape Charles! Mark’s honesty and integrity as a person and a businessman will be greatly missed.Hopefully whoever will takeover Straight Line will have the same calibre as Mark! Good luck and God Bless Mark and your staff!
If you ever had car repairs done by Mark, it is easy to understand all the complementary comments … as well as the dismay felt by former customers who now are asking themselves “who do I use now?” Mark was so good because his work was good, and he was so honest … The most honest mechanic I’ve ever used. Someone like that is extremely hard to replace. What I feel about losing “my mechanic” … and I really liked his employees as well … I don’t think the Wave can print …
I didn’t know Mark, but I did have some work done there to a car back in the mid ’70s. There was a dude that had a 1962 Falcon with a souped up Chevy engine in it. I can’t remember his name, but he was a straight shooter and mechanically sharp. Anyway, everything has a lifespan, and this business unfortunately has met its demise like a lot of other others — to name a few, Candlelight, Paul’s, Rogers Grocery, and Burroughs Drive-In. It is a shame things change, but that’s the way things are — if you live long enough you see an awful lot of it. The Shore is still a cool place to live and be from.
Mark was an anomaly in the midst of rip-off auto repairs up and down the Eastern Shore…an honest mechanic who always fixed it right.
Thanks Mark and good luck in the future.
“I’m afraid your investment has reached a point of diminishing returns.” Say what? Mark, you’ll be missed and I really enjoyed all of our transactions. Your friend ….
Dave
Ditto, all the comments above. Good mechanic who got it right for a fair price. You will be missed, Mark.