The year was 1975. Elton John was singing about freedom in Philadelphia and a movie about a great white shark with an appetite for swimmers was tearing up the box office.
In a small storefront at 83rd Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, Frank Kalebich Sr. was opening the doors to Harlem Auto Parts & Paint Supply that was born from a need for reliable parts during a national energy crisis.
Fifty years later, the gas crunch is long forgotten, but the store that has been a mainstay for automotive parts and supplies in the village – albeit at a new location – continues to thrive by providing great customer service and fair prices to customers throughout the south suburbs.
More than 100 people showed up Oct. 8 for a Customer Appreciation Day where family members held a barbecue to thank customers and suppliers for their support and to celebrate the store’s 50th anniversary while paying tribute to the family patriarch who started the business.
“We are continuing our dad’s legacy of hard work and prioritizing customer service,” said Frank Jr. who – with older brother Bill – runs the business. “The event today was mostly about saying thank you to our customers and suppliers for the relationships we have forged within the community.”
Located the last 40 years in the 2,600-square-foot storefront at 7337 W. 87th St., the business is testament to a half-century of grit, grease and hard work.
Frank Jr. said he remembers one of the mottos his dad used to say was, “You ring, we bring,” referring to various auto parts customers needed. “We would bring the parts wherever they were needed.”
He also recalls the early days when he and his brother Bill would help out their dad in the store. Bill, who is four years older, was 14 and “was more hands on with the business.”
“I was only 10 and relegated to dusting off the spark plugs on the shelves,” he quipped.
Frank Jr. said that “customer service has been a mainstay at the store for half a century and we will continue providing that to our customers.”
Bill said that the business prides itself on “going the extra mile” for its customers. “If we don’t have it, we’ll get it.” It’s all about the customer. We wouldn’t be here without their continued support and we strive to earn their trust and support each and every day.”
One of those happy customers attending the barbecue was Paul Abrams, who has worked at the nearby Precision Frame, a car frame and auto body shop, since 1981.
“Those guys are right on it. I mean they are literally right on it,” he said . “They are here with the part(s) within 10 minutes of us calling them. They are the real deal.”