Auto Magic-Jiffy Lube expands into Hollister

The business partners are moving Auto Magic and Jiffy Lube, their oil-changing and car-washing chain, in a new direction with a Hollister location that will also offer gasoline, fast food and convenience store items.

Orman and Krall on Feb. 16 acquired Hollister Fastrip & Fastlube, 14786 S. U.S. Highway 65, from Robert and Connie Van Damme of RCV Properties Inc. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Hollister Fastrip & Fastlube came complete with four oil-changing service bays, five self-serve car-wash bays, eight gas pumps and a convenience store with a Subway sandwich shop inside.

“We’re really excited about (the acquisition),” said Orman, president and CEO of Orman LLC, which operates eight Jiffy Lube franchises and three Auto Magic locations in Springfield and northern Iowa. Krall is chairman of the board and chief financial officer.

Orman said selling food, drink and gasoline will draw more customers to the Hollister location than would oil changes and car washes alone. The idea is to get the most bang for their buck from the 2.5-acre property.

“We believe in … a multifaceted profit center,” Orman said.

Orman and Krall will employ product cross promotions, offering discounted car washes with oil changes and fuel purchases.

The Hollister purchase is the pair’s first move since buying Bill Barclay’s Springfield Auto Magic and Jiffy Lube locations in October 2004. Orman and Krall bought their Iowa Jiffy Lubes in 1998. Barclay founded Auto Magic in Springfield in 1962 and eventually bought into the Jiffy Lube franchise.

Orman said customer requests and the growth of the Hollister economy led them to the town just south of Branson.

“There’s tons of growth (and) there’s all kinds of potential (in Hollister),” Orman said. “We felt like it was a good time for us to capitalize on that.”

The Missouri Department of Transportation is working on a 60,000-car-per-day interchange near the Hollister Fastrip & Fastlube. That’s driving business development close by, Orman said.

“It’s a very high-traffic area,” he said.

Hollister’s expansion includes Landing View, a condominium/retail/convention space project; Hollister 33, a 400,000-square-foot retail project; a Harter House grocery store; a Cody’s Convenience Store; an Ozark Mountain Bank branch; a First Community Bank branch; expansion of Branson Creek golf course; and The Sanctuary, a $1 billion residential/golf-course development by Argonaut Midwest Holdings LLC.

Orman and Krall will rename the Hollister location Jiffy Lube Fastrip and begin remodeling efforts within four months. They plan to remove two of the self-serve car wash bays and build an Auto Magic Express tunnel on the site within 18 months.

Orman and Krall now operate locations at 1240 and 1248 E. Battlefield, 2323 E. Sunshine, 4115 S. Campbell and 850 E. Kearney.

Their Kearney Street and Iowa locations are standalone Jiffy Lubes – five of the nation’s 2,200 shops. Auto Magic is solely local, and Hollister marks its fourth location.[[In-content Ad]]