Page 69 - Portrait 2011.qxd

raig Bassitt’s auto center reflects on friendlier times. His shop’s reception area resembles a 1950s-style soda fountain, complete with booths reminiscent of an old-time diner and an authentic jukebox. It’s here where the auto staff welcomes their customers.

Over lattés and sodas, work orders are filled out. A par-ent and his young child wait at a nearby pub-style table, admiring a jigsaw puzzle.

Bassitt Auto Co. has been open since 1972. It’s had a few transformations over the years, but one thing has remained the same: Bassitt is sincere when he says, “I want my customers to feel like family.”

The auto shop, located near the busy Beaverton inter-section of 185th and Baseline, could be a blur to some passersby, but those who do stop by are in for a surprise. Not only does Bassitt offer technical auto repairs, but they’ll hand you a soda or cappuccino.

Craig’s customers experience something different at Bassitt. Old-fashioned gas pumps, vintage cars and whimsical artwork depict times gone by and hint at the friendly personnel inside.

Bassitt’s mechanics can service most makes of vehi-cles using the latest diagnostic equipment. Offering bumper-to-bumper assistance, the trained staff is prepared to present customers with an honest diagnosis.

“We’ll look a problem over and let you decide what to do,” says Bassitt who started working on car fuel systems when he was a student at Benson High School.

Eventually, he spent hours repairing vehicles in his former Lake Oswego garage. “It was very lucrative, but I grew out of the space,” says Bassitt who moved to Helvetia and opened up shop in a steel Quonset hut. Further expansion forced the move to the Baseline location. He designed the building to further improve his business.

“We let customers know what we find and explain the options,” he explains. “You make the wise decision. There’s no pressure from us, just reliable information. We want your business for the long term.”

Bassitt, his office manager Patty Brumley, “The Bassitt Lady Princess” (as noted on her business card) and staff manage the daily work flow.

“We think of it as if it was our own mother or daugh-ter entering the shop,” says Brumley. “We want to get cus-tomers where they need to be in the safest way possible. We want the experience to be like Nordstrom. We offer a job guarantee.”

Bassitt’s caring is genuine. His staff promises total honesty and will step up, evaluate and take care of any potential problems. According to Bassitt, if the mechanics cannot do the work themselves, he has a choice group of trustworthy partners to get the job done properly. Bassitt has 13 staffers which include his 18-year front man and general manager Jammie Lile. He’s in charge of all the jobs going through the shop. Chris “Radar” Teters chauffeurs customers in a white stretch limousine to and from their work or home. He hooks up clients with free loaner cars from a fleet of vehicles.

“Noodles” is the shop’s pooch. Naturally, she’s a basset hound and makes special appearances.

Learn more about the shop on its website or drop by during its annual “cruise in.” Open to the public, the sev-enth annual car show will be onAug. 2 this year. View 100 vintage and classic cars, enter a free raffle for prizes and purchase beverages and dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. Proceeds go to a charity. Last year, Lacey’s House, a home for vet-erans, was the recipient.

Bassitt Auto Co. is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.