I walked in cold with no calls or emails, and I met the owner Rich Rodriguez, now the sole proprietor after his father-in-law stepped away from the business. Rich not only gave me a history lesson in the shop but also introduced me to relatives, neighbors and friends who were all gracious with these incredible stories and showing pictures from the past.
I was allowed access to anywhere I wanted, and initially it looked like a regular auto shop. But within minutes a stream of people just started to show up and share things about this little town and Tate Auto.
It’s not uncommon for relatives or neighbors to just walk in and share a story or catch up on the local happenings. The drug store just across the street has that same welcoming appearance. You’d swear it was from the 1950s with its wooden booths and working soda fountains.