02/26/2026
We are truly grateful to the Berkley Historical Society for recognizing Northern Auto Repairs as the #11 oldest business in Berkley and for documenting our journey.
Founded by John Bures and still personally operated by John and his wife, Kamile, today, our strength comes from the families who continue to place their trust in us year after year, along with our dedicated team — hardworking automotive technicians and knowledgeable service advisors who proudly serve the entire tri-county community each day.
After more than five decades, John still enjoys being in the shop. We are thankful to serve multiple generations of customers and remain committed to building lasting relationships — not just repairing vehicles.
Thank you all - John and Kamile Bures
BERKLEY’S OLDEST BUSINESSES STILL IN OPERATION — PRELUDE: Earlier this month, I listed Berkley’s oldest existing homes. Over the coming days, I will present to you a countdown of Berkley’s ten oldest BUSINESSES.
If I had published this list just a few years ago, it would have looked significantly different. Since then, several of Berkley’s oldest businesses have either closed, moved out of the city, or have changed ownership. KOPY KATZ Hair Salon on 12 Mile closed in 2022 after 72 years in business. Also, that year, HENDERSON GLASS closed the doors of its Berkley location on Woodward after being here since 1953. CLAIRMOUNT CLEANERS, located on the southwest corner of Woodward and Harvard since 1956, closed in 2020.
More recently, AUTO BRAKE SPECIALISTS, located on the southeast corner of Coolidge and Sunnyknoll since 1958 has closed and the building is up for sale. Same goes for the stalwart Chet’s Rent-All which closed its original Berkley location on Coolidge in 2025 after 79 years in business and sold the building last August.
Also, I have not included some businesses such as TASTEE-FREEZ, for instance, on Coolidge, which opened in 1952. But it doesn’t qualify because the franchise ceased operating in the ‘90s and is now an entirely different business called FROSTY FREEZE. Similar name with a similar product, but quite a different company. Same with CLARK’S Ice Cream on 12 Mile, it still operates as an ice cream shop, but under a different name and owner from when it originally opened as a DAIRY CROWN in 1958. Most gas stations, too, have changed both affiliation and ownership and no longer qualify as a distinct ongoing business. Others like the BLARNEY STONE do not qualify because although the building it’s in has operated as a bar dating back to 1929, you couldn’t say that Blarney Stone itself (or any of its predecessors) have been in business since that date.
Nor does the list include schools, churches or government offices like the Berkley Public Library or Berkley Post Office. It is debatable if those entities strictly qualify as “businesses,” but at any rate I chose not to include them. Veteran Service and fraternal organizations (American Legion, VFW, Masons, etc.) also do not meet the criteria as businesses. Okay, enough of what is NOT on the list. Let’s get on with it —
Here’s a teaser. One that just missed out on cracking the top 10 is NORTHERN AUTO REPAIRS. Coming in at #11, this family-owned-and-operated auto shop has been in business for 56 years. Originally a Standard gas/service station dating back to 1936, it was opened in March 1970 as Northern Air Conditioning/Auto Repair by owners John Bures and Ray Lieberman. Lieberman retired to Florida in the mid-‘70s. The shop is still proudly family run.
(Tomorrow — the 10th oldest business in Berkley!)
