Smith Automotive Repair LLC opens on E. Second St.

Matt Smith officially opened Smith Automotive Repair LLC at 601 E. Second St. in Merrill on April 1, 2025, after purchasing the building in December 2023 and spending approximately 10 months renovating the space.
“We painted the exterior. We did new siding. I did all new drywall, all new insulation, all new electrical, all new HVAC,” Smith said. His father, who sold one of his homes to help Smith with renovation costs, has been instrumental in helping to get the business off the ground.
“I bought the building myself, but all the renovations and everything he helped me out with,” Smith said.
The building, which was previously a storage facility used by Hargrave Appliances but was long ago a Buick dealership, now houses Smith’s automotive repair shop, complete with a welcoming waiting area for customers that he is in the process of setting up for comfort. A lifelong passion for vehicles is evident in the waiting area, where his El Camino—a vehicle with special significance to him—sits proudly on display.
“I’ve had [it] since my graduation from high school,” Smith said. “It was my daily driver my senior year of high school.” The vehicle has additional significance because Smith began rebuilding the engine after his best friend passed away. “I started rebuilding it kind of for him,” he said. The back window displays a memorial to his friend.

Smith brings eight years of automotive experience to his business, having worked at various dealerships including Breaman Merrill Ford, Wheeler Chevy, and Kocourek Chevy, as well as at independent shops in Milwaukee.
After years of working for others, Smith decided it was time to venture out on his own in search of more opportunity for financial advancement. “I can do this myself. It doesn’t seem too hard, so might as well give it a shot,” he said.
As a Napa Auto Care Center, Smith Automotive Repair offers a wide range of services, with a special focus on “suspension, alignments, tires, basic maintenance, brakes, and regular maintenance,” Smith said.
Being a Napa Auto Care Center offers advantages, enabling Smith to offer a more competitive price on parts and on services like oil changes. The shop features two work bays, with a primary bay for most work and a larger bay with an 18,000-pound lift for trucks and alignment work. Smith has plans to expand in the future, and the building has plenty of room for growth.
There is a lot of additional space available in the back where he hopes to grow the business, an area currently used for storage.
Smith’s next business goal is to hire a service writer to handle scheduling and phone calls, allowing him to focus on repairs. “Answering phones, scheduling things so I can just keep working,” he said.
The shop is currently open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and otherwise by appointment.
Smith is working to increase his business visibility with upcoming plans for a website through Napa Auto Care that will eventually allow customers to order tires online through him, as well as more signage. “I’ll have a big 12-foot-wide Napa Auto Care sign that’s going to be going above the garage doors,” he said. He plans to have the sign installed by the end of May.
Smith said his family has deep roots in the Merrill business community. Matt’s grandfather, Stuart Smith, previously owned ITC Trucking, and his uncle, Doug Smith, owns KFC Taco Bell in Merrill.
Smith Automotive Repair LLC is currently accepting new customers and welcomes walk-ins during business hours. For more information or to schedule an appointment, customers can stop by the shop at 601 E. Second St. in Merrill during business hours or call 715.722.0104.