Staff photo by Fritz Busch Mike’s Collision & Repair Center owner Tim Knaak, left, and mechanical shop manager Brent Reinarts have decades of experience. Knaak has been business owner since 1999. Reinarts has worked at the business for 35 years.

Mike’s Collision & Repair Center has won The Journal’s Reader’s Choice Award for best mechanical repair shop for the past four years.

“It’s a top honor for Mike’s to be chosen by our customers for this award. In return, we want to thank our customers for the work they bring to us and for considering us for this award,” said owner Tim Knaak.

Knaak became owner of Mike’s in 1999. There were nine employees at that time at the business. Their main work was mechanical and auto body.

“We felt the need to diversify our services for repairs that no one was offering and to help widen our customer base,” Knaak said.

Today, Mike’s has 30 employees including their part-time help. There are three shop locations. Two are at 809 20th Street North.

Their sandblasting and painting business is nearby on 19th Street North. It includes a 60-foot sandblasting and paint booth that is mostly used for construction equipment.

Mike’s also does commercial and residential painting at off-site locations.

A new building on 20th North is used for services on semi trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, buses, boats, etc.

The main building has offices, auto body and a mechanical shop managed by Brent Reinarts, who has been working at the business for 35 years.

“I take pride in my work,” said Reinarts. “I can do alignments on any car including muscle cars, show cars, antique cars, or restored cars.”

The mechanical shop also does oil changes, brake jobs, tire repairs, fluid changes, and suspension work.

“I have been doing mechanical work since I was young when I helped my dad in his garage. I will take on anything mechanical,” said Reinarts.

Mike’s oil change program offers a free fifth oil change after four oil changes.

Knaak said the company goal is simple.

“We want to continue our consistency with excellent customer service and quality workmanship. We want to exceed our customer workmanship standards while maintaining our excellent workforce and at the same time, take care of our families,” he said.

Mike’s open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 507-233-4470. Visit mikescollision.com for more information.