MATTHEWS, N.C. — The downtown Matthews Exxon station is known throughout the community for its throwback charm, offering full service at the pumps.
“We work on and repair cars for our customers. Inspections, oil changes, anything they bring in, we take a look for them,” said co-manager Scott Chandler.
After several decades of managing the shop together, it’s hard for Chandler and Don Ivey to summarize how it makes them feel.
“I’m speechless. Humbled. Excited,” said Chandler.
“We’re here all day every day with each other, six days a week, year in and year out, and we’re like brothers,” added Ivey.
The full-service shop is the last of its kind in this area. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the garage doors will close forever.
“Matthews is like home. It’ll be hard to leave,” Chandler told Channel 9.
Just thinking about it gets him teary-eyed, but the two men said it’s the perfect time to close because of the pandemic and the massive growth downtown. Plus, the shop owner will finally retire along with the other employees.
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“The owner of the business is Harry Williams, and he’s graciously given us this place to run for all these years,” said Chandler.
It’s the charm that keeps customers coming back to the shop. Drivers told Channel 9 they’re trying to stop by as much as they can before the closure.
“All the gentlemen here are always so nice,” said Vicki Hege as she filled up her gas tank.
“Just being here is a bit of nostalgia,” added customer John Weber. “This is a core thing of Matthews.”
There is a parade planned for Saturday morning for people to drive by, honk and say thank you. It is being organized by Matthews’ business owner David Johnson.
“The station has embodied everything about the small town,” he said. “We just wanted to tip our hat to another great business, to a job well done.”
The gratitude is overwhelming. Chandler said he’ll miss the people most. For Ivey, it’s not goodbye, just see you later.
“We’re still here in the community. We’ll run into everyone at the grocery store. We’ll still say hello. We’re not going anywhere, we’re just changing roles,” he said.
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