Griffins offer import and domestic specialized car care
Tony and Belinda (Shoff) Griffin of Flora have opened Griffin's Service Center of Flora in the former Abdon building at 105 W. Main St.

T. Griffin

The Griffins' business provides

import and domestic specialized auto care. The center opened Tuesday with a special grand opening celebration.

Griffin started in the import car business at age 18. He went to work for a Porsche dealership where he received his apprenticeship as a Porsche mechanic.

During that time he hooked up with the Porsche racing team. He won his first championship in 1977 at the Washington D.C. Regional Championships for the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). He competed in other forms of road racing until 1992.

Griffin cross-trained on various other imports and then opened his own service business in Pennsylvania. He owned and operated that business for 10 years before moving to his wife's home state of Indiana. He worked at several high-end import sales and service facilities in Indianapolis before working with domestics at various Lafayette dealerships.

Last March he and his wife decided they wanted to open their own business.

B. Griffin

"I work on the vehicles, my wife does computer graphic design, and we both share the bookkeeping," he said.

The service center will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They can be reached at 574-967- 0117 or visit their web site at www.griffinbilt.com.

In the couple's free time, they camp. "We've been to nearly all of the campgrounds in Indiana," he said.

They also have six children and one grandchild.

The Griffins encourage the public to stop in and see their new 2,500 square foot shop, located in the north end of the building.