Beechcroft Automotive auto repair shop goes the extra mile

By Jason Zasky

David Fitzgerald has been in the automotive industry his whole life. But he didn’t have his own repair shop until 2018, when he opened Beechcroft Automotive, which is found at 5406 Main Street in Spring Hill.

“I knew I was going to be a mechanic when I was a boy because my daddy was a great mechanic, and I wanted to be like my daddy,” says Fitzgerald, who was introduced to the automotive repair business when he was ten years old, as his father owned service stations in the 1970s.  

Having found his calling at an early age, he’s as passionate as ever about repairing cars.

“This is my talent, and I never consider it a job. It’s just something I love to do,” he says, having noted that he started his own business after working alongside a sibling for more than a decade. 

“My brother owns Spring Hill Automotive. I worked there for 11 years and missed two days in those 11 years, so I knew I had the work ethic,” he explains.

Now he’s doing much the same work he did at Spring Hill Automotive, but he’s making his way with one other technician and a staff of four. His team repairs all brands and handles everything from transmissions and brakes to electrical work and tune-ups. 

Notably, when the business first started, Fitzgerald also did boat repairs. 

“When I first opened the boat business is what carried me. But the automotive business pushed the boats out,” says Fitzgerald. Well, that and the fact that he didn’t have enough parking space for cars and boats, which led to him to focus exclusively on automobiles.

As for his approach to doing business, Fitzgerald prides himself on honesty and developing relationships. 

“My reputation means more to me than anything. The money comes and goes, but the friends I have made, they’re priceless,” he says, noting that most of his business comes via word-of-mouth, which he calls “the best advertisement I have.”

Fitzgerald goes on to relate his “words to live by,” which he heard from an insurance salesman many years ago: I will not steal for you, and I will not steal from you. 

“I’m going to do the right thing, and sometimes the right thing is costly. But I’m going to do the right thing,” he insists.

Fitzgerald has also demonstrated a willingness to go the extra mile for customers. 

“Last Sunday, I had a customer who called my cell phone, and I came here after church and fixed her car. I don’t know too many mechanics who would do that,” he says, “but it means a lot to me. If I can help a person, I’m going to do it.”

That said, it’s no surprise that Beechcroft Automotive does its part to support the local community. 

“For customers who have children that go off to college, I tell them if they bring their vehicle in, I’ll change the oil and check the vehicle at no cost. Two times per year I give them two free oil changes — when they start school and when they come home on break,” he says.

Fitzgerald also donates to The Well’s food pantry. 

“I think that’s a worthy cause, and I can see where my money is going,” he explains.

Not surprisingly, the 59-year-old says he is really enjoying living in Spring Hill, having moved from Columbia in 2019. 

“I see people I do business with out in the community. I shake their hands and ask how they are doing. I look forward to it every day, because you never know who you are going to run into,” he says, a reflection of how Maury County has become increasingly diverse in recent years.

“There’s a good mixture of people here that weren’t here when I first started. I have met a lot of good people who have moved here from New York, Ohio, and California. Sometimes the traffic is what it is, but I think this is where I’m supposed to be,” he explains.

“If I have a weakness, it’s that I don’t specialize in one particular manufacturer. It gives you an opportunity to keep learning, and I like learning,” he concludes. “If you quit learning, you might as well quit what you’re doing.” 

 Contact:
Beechcroft Automotive
5406 Main St, Spring Hill, TN 37174
931-486-1983
facebook.com/BeechcroftAutoSH/