Frank’s Auto Body expands to Bluffton
News | Published on October 10, 2023 at 3:52pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0Holzer continues tradition family tradition started by his father
Frank’s Auto Body has two locations in the lakes area including both Perham and Bluffton. The businesses are owned by Brian Holzer who is continuing the legacy started by his father.
By Tucker Henderson
Reporter
Frank’s Auto Body, a staple business of Perham, has branched out with a second shop location in Bluffton. Brian Holzer, son of the business’ namesake, continues on the legacy that his father started in 1979 at the former Tom’s Body Shop in Bluffton.
Frank’s Auto Body is located in the heart of Bluffton, as well as Perham. The business is owned by Brian Holzer and the Bluffton shop can repair everything from glass to collision repairs, cars, trucks and semis.
Holzer purchased the business from Tom Brauch in May of 2022 and he said that he is looking forward to meeting new customers and reaching out in the community of Bluffton.
“I love the towns of Bluffton and New York Mills,” he said. “I live in Mills, I’m kinda right in the middle.”
Holzer’s original shop in Perham has 10 employees and he is always looking for more to work on their auto body services. His slogan is “big or small, we fix them all,” having fixed anything from ovens and refrigerators to semi trucks and busses.
“I have two different locations in Perham,” he said. “Trucks and restoration, that’s the old classics. So we do a lot of work for Z Transportation and Schultz in Detroit Lakes and Fergus Falls. Somebody’s gotta fix them!”
Holzer said that his favorite part of the job is the people that he gets to interact with on a daily basis. Customers always come first in his shop and he prides himself on establishing a friendly environment.
“You should always have friendly faces when you come in,” he said. “We strive on quality.”
In Bluffton, Holzer’s shop has three employees completing the daily tasks and repairs. He finds himself spending time between the two locations and has always enjoyed the restoration side of the business especially.
“I was born in ’77, so I was basically born into it,” he joked. “Born in the body shop. Bringing cars back to life, back to the factory look.”
Holzer is hopeful that the third generation of his family will carry on the business when they get old enough to learn the trade.
“He’s gonna be the boss,” Holzer laughed. “He’s seven, so, he says he is, but hopefully we still have things rolling then. We’ll always be here even though the cars will fly, I’ve always said that.
Frank’s Body Shop in Bluffton is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached at (218) 385-2426.