On July 1, Pete’s Auto Repair owners Nita and Pete Harksell Jr. will celebrate 20 years of business at their current location at 6209 Portal Way in Ferndale.

While 20 years is a good run for a business, the auto shop has even longer roots. Pete’s father opened a service station called Pete’s Ferndale Exxon in 1969. That business was also located on Portal Way just a half-mile south of their current location.

Pete started working at his father’s business when he was 11.

“He started out pushing a broom, then pumping gas,” Nita said.

And by the time he was 18, he had his technician license, she said. Nita also worked at the old location before the move.

In the decades the shop has been open, it has garnered a regular customer base, and customer longevity may be honored with a prize at the anniversary celebration, Nita said.

“We are talking about having a prize for the person who can bring in the oldest invoice from Pete’s Auto Repair,” she said, adding that an invoice from the old service station would also be recognized.

An open house will be held at Pete’s Auto Repair from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on July 1. The celebration will feature free car washes, vehicle inspections, a barbecue and hourly drawings. There will also be representatives present throughtout the day from NAPA Auto Parts, AAA, Interstate Batteries and the Automotive Service Association of Washington.

A Ferndale Chamber of Commerce after hours event will also be held at the shop later that day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, call Pete’s Auto Repair at (360) 380-2277.