05/28/2026
Hi Friends!
We are celebrating 70 years of service!
How did we get started? Let's take a trip down memory lane ...
It’s the spring of 1956, young brothers Joe and Chuck Saladino decide to venture into business together and put their passion of automobiles into fruition by opening a service station. Together they bought a Phillips 66 Gas and Service Station on Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove. This was the beginning of the first generation of J & C Auto Service. Most people go into business for themselves, Joe and Chuck went into business for their customers. In the beginning they spent a lot of time wondering if they would get much business. Chuck, 18 and just out of high school, and Joe, 24 and tired of working for a tile company, spent long days and nights providing services to their customers that exceeded usual business expectations and felt more like it was coming from family and friends. Joe and Chuck became both of these to their customers.
As time passed, the service business grew and the decision was made to leave the gas station behind. In 1972, the property across the street was purchased and the auto repair business moved to its current location at 821 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL. J & C Auto Service continued its wonderful journey building business with word-of-mouth adding to the customer base and then added several full-time technicians dedicated to their work. As a customer satisfaction driven shop, long hours were spent focusing on quality repairs, friendly service and always being ready to help. From changing a tire to major engine repairs, J & C Auto were becoming Downers Grove’s dedicated neighborhood shop.
Joe and Chuck’s quality repairs and customer friendly way brought them to the next leg of their journey .. expansion. In 1986, they purchased the property next door and expanded the footprint of the shop, adding additional bays and growing the business exponentially.
As the business grew, so did Joe’s young son, Joey. He spent his early years growing up in the shop with his Dad and Uncle, learning from the bottom up. Understanding the ins and outs of automotive repair, Joey worked hard to become an excellent, conscientious technician. He saw firsthand what is required of a business owner and how his Dad and Uncle created a thriving legacy of customer service. So, when Chuck decided it was time to retire from the business in 1999, Joey decided to join his Dad in partnership and in the running of the business. Progress is the name of the game. Joey upgraded to a new computer system, expanded shop equipment and extended services offered.
After years of hard work, relocating and expanding the business, and always putting customers first, Joe Sr. decided to retire in 2001. Even retirement couldn’t keep him from spending time at the shop. He enjoyed hanging out in the office and talking to customers, many had been customers since the very beginning of J & C. Hard work, long hours, perseverance, and Joe and Chuck’s love for their customers kept them coming back.
In 2018, Joey began to venture into the world of auto body repair. Starting small, but increasing quickly, Joey opened a full-service auto body repair in Westmont, IL, J & C Auto Body. From collision repair to dents and scratches, classic, muscle or vintage car restoration, paint services, windshield repair and more, J & C Auto Body is winning customers over with the same dedication to quality service that has made J & C Auto Service a go-to neighborhood favorite.
Joey has continued the legacy of serving customers with professional automotive repair and auto body / collision repair, upholding high ethical standards, and offering friendly and successful repair experiences. He learned from his Dad and Uncle that a business built on hard work and dedication matters. Giving back to the community has played a huge role since J & C ‘s start 70 years ago. J & C has generously supported local organizations and is award-winningly recognized for everyday service excellence and customer satisfaction having received numerous awards.
J & C Auto has exemplified the professionalism necessary to build back respect for an industry that traditionally is labelled negatively. The best advertising is a happy customer. Building strong relationships with customers has been the cornerstone of J & C Auto. The journey of 70 years of business in Downers Grove has been full of varied challenges over the decades. Cracking the code of knowing what the customer needs and expects, then going beyond, can be hard. The team at J & C has the key to solving this mystery. The deep family tradition of caring for customer’s vehicles perseveres as J & C continues its legacy and journey of excellence.
A big shout out to all of our loyal customers for 70 great years of service ... and counting! Thank you!
Check back with us again soon for more shared moments.
