By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV, www.therealwv.com
After spending the last 15 years in a public school classroom teaching auto mechanics, Josh Mitchem is opening a business with his two sons, Austin and Dylan.
“We’re excited to get started,” Josh said yesterday as the doors opened early on Monday morning for the first time at Mountain State Performance. “Happy to be back wrenchin’.”
The shop is located at the base of Ronceverte Hill on Route 219, by the town’s only stop sign. It was previously Weikle’s Auto Clinic, run first by Gary Weikle and then by Davey Holliday.
A Family Business
“I’ve been doin’ this my whole life,” Josh says. “My grandfather was a diesel mechanic in World War II, and I always hung around him growin’ up and enjoyed workin’ in vehicles.”
After taking classes from the late Bob Baker, a former Ronceverte City Council member auto mechanics teacher, Josh worked at Greenbrier Motor Company for 11 years. He frequently mentored students as a technician and enjoyed that experience, calling it a way to “give back.”
Then in 2010, he had an opportunity to begin teaching the same classes at Greenbrier East High School he had once taken as a student. “I fell in love with teaching,” he says. “I always had a passion for the hand/mechanical connection.”
Two of his many students over the years were his sons, Austin (a recent graduate) and Dylan (currently a senior in high school).
“We have a good family dynamic,” he shares. “We’ve always done everything together. So I decided to break the bank and go all in on this shop with them.”
All three Mitchems are working at the shop full-time. Dylan is working there as part of a work-based learning program through Greenbrier County Schools, which allows students to get hands-on experience while completing their degree.
“I’m fortunate to be able to do this with my boys,” Josh says. “Hopefully we’ll be able to make a good livin’ and give back to the community.”
Hours & Services
Mountain State Performance will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop number is 304-647-5080. Josh encourages customers to call or stop by to schedule their vehicle for work.
As ASE-certified mechanics, Josh says they can “handle most anything.”
“We can do alignments, brakes, tires, oil changes, rotor services, air conditioning machines “(for older and newer), oil changes, transmission service, engine work, electrical work,and more,” he says.
“If we can’t help you, I’ll connect you with someone who is trustworthy and can help you,” he adds. “Like Levi Masters, we refer stuff to each other.”
“If we can work together, it helps the whole town out.”
an engine repair job.
(Photo by RealWV)
