Photos courtesy Melanie Dunn Photography
Shop Name: Hailey Auto Clinic
Owner(s): Alex Dunn
Location (city, state): Hailey, Idaho
Staff Size: 7
Shop Size (in square feet): 2,700 square feet
Number of Bays: 5
Average Monthly Car Count: 350
Annual Revenue ($): 1.9 million
At first glance, Hailey Auto Clinic might strike you as a swanky circa 1950s diner complete with a metallic exterior, block glass entrance, and neon lighting. Owner Alex Dunn conceived the design with the help of a builder and architect. He admits the block glass was a touch he requested, telling the team, 'Oh, my God! That's such a cool idea. We got to do it.' The shop, built in 2019, also has glass bay doors.
I was a three-way design team. It took all three of us to get it done,” Dunn says. “Buildings are expensive, so you might as well have fun with it. At the end of the day,I wanted anyone that would drive past the shop to know this is a shop that cares about the final product. It isn't just about the money. It's someone that cares from top to bottom about the experience and about the entire repair.”
Clean, Not Clutter
Dunn has a penchant for minimalism and efficient workspaces, which is why his waiting room and shop are both scaled to fit the need.
“When you walk through the doors, it's a relatively small office. We've got like a refrigerator full of drinks and like a little snack bar there and a coffee machine. I don't have much artwork up or anything like that. I just wanted it to be clean, not cluttery because I know if you try and do that much business out of a small space, you're going to attract clutter,” says Dunn, adding he does have a few waiters who stick around daily for appointment oil changes
All Hands on Deck
One of the unique aspects of Hailey Auto Clinic is its rooftop deck, an addition Dunn wanted to have added to the shop. It’s a hidden gem with a view of the mountains.
“We had a deck built, and we have shop meetings up there,” Dunn says. “We can watch the Fourth of July fireworks and the Fourth of July parade right there. We make use of it as much as possible. It's got great views.”
Glass Doors & Close Quarters
Dunn says he chose to have glass bay doors to add a layer to his commitment to transparency, in the most literal way. The shop has two bays in front and three at the back. Most of the scan tools are Wi-Fi enabled and technicians are never more than a few steps from any equipment. That’s by design.
“There's zero wasted space because wasted space is expensive. We just all pack in there like sardines and crank out as much as we can. There's just not a whole lot of breathing room, but we get it done.
