Back when gasoline cost less than 70 cents per gallon, Henry Basurto, a Peruvian immigrant, opened an auto repair shop on the corner of Gilman Street and Neilson Street: Henry’s Service.
On April 30, the shop released the final car from its service, prompting neighbors and loyal customers to come join the Basurto family in celebrating the shop’s nearly 50-year history.
Community members surprised the 91-year-old owner with cards, refreshments and music before Basurto rolled out of his shop in the passenger seat of a 1941 Chevy Master Deluxe sedan — a car entrusted to his care for the past 40 years.
According to posters and photographs put up on the walls of the shop honoring its owner’s legacy, Basurto moved to the United States in 1947, first to New York before heading to California.
He and his wife moved around the Bay Area until the late ’70s, when the family settled in Albany and purchased a gas station in the Westbrae neighborhood of Berkeley, which turned into Henry’s Service.
There, Basurto built a base of loyal customers, many of whom participated in the surprise celebration of his beloved shop.
“People are so good to me. I can’t say enough,” Basurto said.
Since Basurto’s retirement nine years ago, Henry’s Service has been run by Lonnie Basurto and Frederic Pras, Basurto’s son and son-in-law, respectively.
Lonnie originally began working in the shop after Henry bought it in 1977, providing full gas service to customers. Since returning to the shop in the early ’90s, he has handled invoicing and customer service. Lonnie is now entering retirement.
“I’m going to miss my neighbors, my customers. I really couldn’t be more blessed,” Lonnie said.
Pras, who serves as the sole mechanic for Henry’s Service, will be carrying on the family business through a mobile repair service under the same name. The shop’s building will be turned into a community garden cafe that continues to honor the location’s legacy, according to the new owners.
Henry’s Service was praised by customers at the event for its “integrity” and “love.”
Customers said they would miss bringing their cars to a place that led with “heart and soul,” but noted that they will continue to have Pras service their cars at home through his mobile service.
“It’s a pretty special place, the way they deal with customers as human beings first, and then customers and business second,” said longtime customer Shai Wolff. “That’s pretty refreshing.”