A shuttered quick lube oil change center, silent and empty for more than half a dozen years, has sprung back to life this week on the periphery of The Orchards Mall, resurrected by the people who launched it 22 years ago before closing it down due to the recession.
Victory Lube Car Care Center has returned to Benton Township after being closed down since 2010, marking the third quick lube operation in their stable of operations opposite Pipestone Road from Brookfield Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram and alongside the Meijer supermarket service station.
Joey Andrews IV is Executive Director for Victory Lube which also has operations on South 11th Street in Niles and on U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. He tells me that while the recession forced their hand into shutting down six years ago, it was customer-driven demand from previous clientele who repeatedly spoke of missing the business at 1870 Pipestone Road in Benton Harbor.
Andrews says in prepping for their return to the market, the Victory Lube crew installed a 5 kilowatt solar array on the roof of the building which will provide half of the property's electric needs going forward. He says so far as he knows they are the only solar-powered quick lube in Berrien County and maybe in all of Michigan's Great Southwest.
Victory Lube first established operations on the periphery of the mall in 1994, but closed up shop in 2010 due to the recession. The quick lube is also a sister property to the Harbor Wash car wash a couple of hundred yards away on the opposite end of the Meijer parking lot across from the Secretary of State's Office. Thanks to that affiliation, customers of Victory Lube earn a free automatic car wash with each oil change transaction.
Victory Lube returned quietly to the market on Monday with a soft-opening, featuring $29.99 oil changes which they will continue until Christmas Eve. All systems are up and running at the Pipestone site and following the opening special, Andrews says customers can expect weekly specials into the future as well.
You can learn more, track specials and things by following Victory Lube on Facebook or by clicking the link below to their website. You can also reach Victory Lube by phone at 269-927-3232.
Here's the link: http://www.VictoryLube.com
