By GINNY COOPER MCCARLEY / Special to the Reporter

PELHAM—Lynn Johnson opened his business, Lynn Johnson Collision Repair, about 26 years ago after working doing repairs in addition to a full-time job.

“I just kind of started a side business, and soon my side business was taking more (time) than my real job,” said Johnson.

When a building housing what once was a Westwood Auto Parts store came up for sale, Johnson decided to make the purchase and move his business into the bigger location. After extensive renovations, the new location opened in mid-November of 2014.

The renovations on the building included stucco on the exterior of the building, as well as work on the roof and painting. Johnson said the new location has “all the latest stuff” for auto repair, including a downdraft booth for painting cars that is heated to bake the paint, a laser-guided measuring system, as well as frame machines and lifts.

For Johnson, meeting new people is the best part about working in collision repair. When a company tried to buy the business from Johnson a few years ago, Johnson turned them down because he enjoys operating Lynn Johnson Collision Repair.

“I like going to work,” Johnson said. “I get bored on the weekends.”