It was a sad day for neighbors in the East Orangewood community when the service station at 7th Street and Glendale Avenue, known to many as the “Squaw Peak Exxon,” closed its doors earlier this year after 30 years of business. The building has been torn down, and is being replaced with a new Wachovia Bank branch.

    They mourn the loss of the station, not because there are no other places to fill up in the area, but because it was the last full-service filling station in the North Central community. Customers could have their tire air pressure checked, their windshields cleaned, their gas tank filled and their fluids levels checked, all from the comfort of their car.

    The station also included three service bays, where you could have your steaming radiator fixed, or that nail in your tire removed and your tire re-inflated.

    Owner Larry McIntyre and his crew, including service manager Michael “Burgie” Bruggensmith, often went above and beyond what was considered normal customer service—even for them.

    “Larry or Bergie would drive you home while your car was being serviced, and then bring you back so you could pick it up,” says former customer Posey Nash. “Larry cashed checks for me, and washed my windows even when I self served!”

    Donna Jacobson had her four children reach teenager driving years in the 30 years that the station was open. “At one time or another, each had a flat tire due to a random nail or glass,” she explains. “The service station always pulled it out, repaired the tire, pumped the tire back up and sent them on their way. Most times they never charged us.”

    It wasn’t just her children who benefited from the team at Squaw Peak Exxon.  “I am the mom who despised taking the time to ‘fill up’ and it was reassuring to know all I had to do was make it 1 mile. Several times I coasted in on empty,” she admits.

    Barb Hill is particularly grateful to the former crew at the station. “I particularly remember the time they called my daughter into their office when some creeps hit on her as she was filling up her car. They kept her in there till it was safe to come out.”

    Sharon Harper says her entire family is sad to see the station go. “Not only did it provide amazing service but it was truly a neighborhood amenity. Larry and all of the employees were terrific and I miss them and wonder how they are.”

    The answer to that question, at least for one familiar face, is “just fine.”

    Bergie, who worked at the Squaw Peak Exxon for 14 years, is now at Virginia Auto Service at the northwest corner of 7th Street and Virginia Avenue. Bergie joined Virginia Auto team in early February. Owner Matt Allen paid for him to attend some basic computer skills classes at Scottsdale Community College, since the system at his old place of business remained paper-based. Bergie, who lives in Scottsdale, also is practicing his keyboard skills at the local library.

    When his training is complete, Bergie will be a service advisor at Virginia Auto—manning the front desk, inputting estimates, calling customers, answering general service questions, and more.

    Allen has pledged that Virginia Auto will continue the full-service auto care that many in the North Central community came to rely on. Residents are invited to bring their car into Virginia Auto and have their tires, wipers and fluids checked free of charge

And who knows, it may even be the familiar face of Bergie himself that greets you.

    For more information, call Virginia Auto Service at 602-266-0200.