After eight years in Evans and 20 in Martinez under the watch of “Buffalo Vince” Tedhams, the Buffalo Brakes brand just came to a screeching halt.
Owners Becky and Larry Griffith made the difficult decision to close recently.
“We are under contract (to a non-automotive business) and should close by the end of the year,” said Becky, who served as office manager of Buffalo Brakes for eight years— the last couple full-time.
For the former beauty shop owner—the closing is emotional.
” The people of Columbia County were great. I will really miss our customers. The business grew fast in the beginning. There were lots and lots of new customers. When we purchased the business we knew that we were going to be rebuilding to a certain extent. After other automotive businesses came into the area business slowed,” she added.
Christian Brothers Automotive, Express Oil Change and Tires and a Jiffy Lube Multi-Care all moved within a 5 minute drive of Buffalo Brakes— and brake-focused service centers also moved into Columbia County.
Mrs. Griffith also said Covid-19 made operating more difficult. “We were reduced to part time hours during the first several months into the pandemic. Gradually we added hours until we were back Monday through Friday,” she continued.
Like many other companies she got caught in the labor crunch.
“Finding qualified experienced mechanics was always hard but has gotten almost impossible these days. We have had to make do for a while now with what we had. In addition to that It is hard to offer services honestly and reasonably and make a good enough profit. In hindsight we really needed to expand our services and offer more things to help supplement the business. But unfortunately you can’t rewind.”
Griffith said the saving grace was that she and her husband were able to purchase the land and Buffalo Brakes building at 4448 Washington Road—about five years ago.
“We had been marketing to sell both property and business for a little while now, but it didn’t work out for another operator to move in.
That would have been our wish but that’s not what has happened.”
She concluded that she worries about their customers and where they will go now.
“I am sure they will find places they can trust but I was hoping to be able to provide that for them , it just didn’t work out that way.”
