If you havenB次元官网网址檛 had a vehicle repaired by Bob Banner or one of his sons, the odds are pretty darn good you know someone in Sooke who has.
After 40 years in operation, Banner, the founder and owner of BobB次元官网网址檚 Repair Center on Idlemore Road, is closing for good.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 sad to have to close after 40 years,B次元官网网址� admitted Bob Banner, who owned the business with his sons. B次元官网网址淚t all started with my wife, Jeanne. I bought the property and built the building in B次元官网网址�86, and before that, I worked out of my backyard, starting in B次元官网网址�72-73.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 got to know a lot of people along the way, served a lot of people, and probably the odd one was angry with me. IB次元官网网址檓 86 now and fortunate enough to be able to sell it,B次元官网网址� said Bob, who retired about 20 years ago.
Banner is proud that he was able to mentor his four sons, Greg, Ken, Steven, and Ray, for their Red Seal mechanics certification tickets along the way.
Greg, who began working with his dad after he graduated from high school in 1984, started out doing repairs in the family home yard with his father.
The brothers worked as mechanics at the Shell Station on Sooke Road before BobB次元官网网址檚 Repair Center opened. The oldest brother, Steven, died of cancer, and another brother, Ray, had to stop working after an on-site injury at the shop, but Greg and Ken continued working until the official final day on May 31.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think I would have lasted this long if it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for the opportunity to work with my dad and my brothers,B次元官网网址� Ken said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been very rewarding.B次元官网网址�
They have worked on just about every type of engine and vehicle, B次元官网网址淓verything from lawnmowers to dump trucks,B次元官网网址� Ken noted.
B次元官网网址淚f it had wheels, we pretty much worked on one,B次元官网网址� Greg added. B次元官网网址淥ver the years, the feedbackB次元官网网址檚 always been positive. It makes you feel good about what youB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淓veryone who came in knows dad. We could probably do a television show with some of the characters weB次元官网网址檝e met over the years. People who donB次元官网网址檛 know us through BobB次元官网网址檚 Repair Center probably know us through fastball. We all played, and our kids played, and weB次元官网网址檝e always been big supporters of fastball in Sooke.B次元官网网址�
Greg said it feels like the right time to close the shop finally, and heB次元官网网址檚 ready to call it a day.
B次元官网网址淲hen you have your own business, you donB次元官网网址檛 have the option of not going to work one day,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to peace and tranquillity and letting the body heal. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty demanding standing on concrete for 38 years. It takes its toll.B次元官网网址�
A post on Facebook from a long-time customer describes their father as B次元官网网址渉onest to the core,B次元官网网址� something Greg and Ken believe says it all.
The Banners invite anyone who would like to extend a final farewell to drop by on June 23, between 9 a.m. and noon.
B次元官网网址�
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