The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
ONE-MAN SHOW
Gary’s Marathon continues to provide customers with full service
Today, many Lorain County motorists visit repair shops and gasoline stations for their every day auto needs.
But others travel to Lorain’s East Side for a full service treatment.
Gary’s Marathon, 2312 Garfield Blvd., has provided fuel and auto services for the last 13 years.
Lorain native Gary Luman, 49, owns and operates Gary’s Marathon.
Luman, who took ownership of the shop in 2005, says his services aren’t as popular in the county anymore.
A one-man shop, Luman pumps fuel for his customers and does auto body repairs.
“I do this because it’s just a nice thing to do.”
— Lorain native Gary Luman
He says his business is one of a few gasoline stations in the county that still offers his services.
As a youngster, Luman said he remembers the Marathon building providing the same services, but was a lot busier.
Similar service stations were all over the community, he said.
As a young man, Luman worked as an attendant at a gas station on Grove Avenue on the city’s south side.
He recalled most of those service stations have since become convenient stores or gas stations with a selfserve service.
Many of these services no longer are offered because auto shops are now affiliated with box companies or partnered with larger corporations, Luman said.
Self-serve fuel stations have become easier for customers and are efficient, he said.
Luman said he has developed loyal customers from Lorain, Avon Lake, Sheffield, Elyria and Amherst.
Most of his auto repairs and gas prices are lower compared to others.
Luman said his Marathon station is independently owned, therefore, he can offer lower prices and still stay competitive.
“If I can stay cheaper than most of the other stations, I sell more,” he said.
Not many young customers ask him to pump their gas because they aren’t familiar with that service, Luman
said.
“I do this because it’s just a nice thing to do,” he said.
Other services
Luman said he performs work on all types of cars, from old to new and from American to foreign vehicles.
He said he has invested thousands of dollars in tools and equipment to work on the vehicles.
Luman said his auto repair service is usually $60 to $75 an hour.
“You have to keep updated on tools,” he said. “If you don’t have the tools, you can’t do the work. The more new cars become, the more tools you need to work on them.”
Luman said his customers can save money at Gary’s Marathon.
“You can save money coming to a little shop like this, as long as it’s something we’re equipped to do,” he said. “Some advanced technology, like computer work, can (create a challenge), but I can do all sorts of work.
“Someone that’s qualified can put breaks or perform work on anything. I’ve worked on foreign cars, American cars; whatever. It doesn’t really make a difference; it’s essentially nuts and bolts to me.”
Luman said he enjoys what he does because he’s helping others in the community he grew up in.
“You know, I very easily could have turned this into a convenient store like others did, but I’m stubborn and like working on cars, and I like providing the service,” he said. “There’s not a lot of service centers around anymore, so I figured it would have been more successful, which we have had our successes.”
The customers
Louis Repko, 86, of Lorain, said Gary’s Marathon is a great place where he receives all of the auto services he needs.
Repko said he has been a regular customer for about 35 years and enjoys the service. “He does a great job and is very consistent,” Repko said of Luman. “I buy my tires, get my gas and have auto repairs done here.
“I do every thing here. He’s a good man. He’s a good man, you want to know why? Because if you need something in a hurry, you come over here and he has it.”
Repko said he also does not see any other stations like Gary’s Marathon around anymore.
“He has everything you want and gives you the service you need,” Repko said. “So what more could you ask for?”
Repko also has an image of himself inside the station.
A framed Life magazine photo capturing Repko on a July 31, 1950, issue as a soldier driving in Korea during the Korean War hangs on the wall inside of the shop.
Luman said he has reduced his hours of operation because there is not much traffic at night.
“I enjoy doing this,” he said. “I enjoy what I do or I wouldn’t do it. Believe me, I’m not getting rich here by any stretch.
“I’m making a decent living. I like doing what I’m doing. I like helping the people and helping my customers.”
Gary’s Marathon is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The station is closed Sundays.