October 2020
North End Auto Spring is extremely proud to be celebrating a huge milestone this week. We have been in business for 75 years from 1945 - 2020.
North End Auto Spring was opened in 1945 by John Zuk on Pritchard Ave. in the north end of Winnipeg. At the time this was the hub of Winnipeg commerce and close to the train station and all the wholesale companies. They worked on buggies, cars, and trucks which everyone was buying up after the war boom. In the early 1970's his son, Jules Zuk took over from his father and moved the company to its current location on Oak Point Highway which is now the center of the trucking industry in Winnipeg (Centerport).
My father, Gord Shawcross took over the reins in 1991 and made the biggest change to date in the company's history. He computerized the inventory and invoicing and starting shipping product outside of Manitoba into Saskatchewan, North West Ontario and even Nunavut.
In 2006 I purchased the business from my father, Gord after many years working in various roles in the company. Mike Zajaros, my husband joined me in the business shortly thereafter. He brought his vast knowledge of the repair side of the trucking industry. The changes that we have made are to include adding front end service and parts as well as trailer brake and axle parts and service. Together we've tried to uphold the family values of the previous owners.
We would like to thank our customers, some of who are third generation and can remember coming in with their grandpa. Our success as a small business is because of your support!
Thank you to our valued staff, both past and present. It truly takes a team to survive this long in business. To our suppliers, business partners, friends, and family thank you for keeping product on the shelves and your suggestions on new ways to grow the business while keeping us on track.
In lieu of throwing a party we have decided to begin a scholarship for deserving students in the heavy-duty trades. We feel with the shortage of mechanics in the industry this will be meaningful.
SERVICE - INTEGRITY - RELATIONSHIPS
Thank you from Debbie & Mike Zajaros
