After one full year in business, Hill Country Yota Works Owner Fred Means said he has enjoyed the surprises, challenges and excitement that come with business ownership. The locally owned automotive repair shop specializes in Toyota and Lexus vehicles and services cars throughout the Hill Country area.

Means said he originally decided to open his business in New Braunfels to fill a gap in auto repair services for New Braunfels and San Marcos residents. Now, instead of having to drive all the way into Austin or San Antonio, they have a local shop closeby.

“It seems very apparent to us that there’s a need for this service in the community,” Means said. “...People have been so appreciative and thankful.”

After about three months being in business, Means said he started seeing people coming in on a routine basis for maintenance.

“It’s been exciting to see new customers and see our client base grow,” Means said. “People come as far as Del Rio and South Texas, even from Austin and Johnson City. They all let us know that they’re happy we’re here, so they make the drive.”

Means said HC Yota Works gets many referrals from prior customers and social media, and it can be fun to learn where and how new customers discovered the business.

One customer in particular, Monica Elrod, has been a big fan of the business. Elrod said Means and his team have a depth of knowledge about Toyota and Lexus and it shows in the work they do.

“Our Toyota Land Cruiser is 23 years old and thanks to HC Yota Works, it’s running like a dream,” Elrod said. “They have fair pricing for the cost of labor and services. Even better, their completion timeline is always communicated upfront and often is finished before the time given. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy and proficient mechanic for your Toyota or Lexus.

In addition, she said Means and his wife Kristin treat their customers like family.

“They go above and beyond to accommodate scheduling and realize the importance of communication and customer service,” Elrod said.

Means said a large part of his approach is simplifying the repair process and giving customers peace of mind about their automotive repairs. In practice, this looks like prioritizing repairs in the order they need to be done—anything vital comes first. Sometimes, Means is even able to combine a couple repairs into one to save the customer some money.

“It can be confusing when customers are handed the estimate and they don't know where to start,” Means said. “Oftentimes, when customers are handed a giant estimate, they feel like it’s an all-or-nothing thing, but it's not. These things can be addressed in stages, and we can help people plan those [stages] out, or even watch and wait.”

To celebrate one full year of business, HC Yota Works is throwing an anniversary party. While the details are still being worked out, Means is planning to do a social & mingle event where local residents can come show off their Toyota/Lexus vehicles.

“Having a Toyota means you have your own community,” Means said. “Come meet the guys who work on your cars, show off your car and make some friends.”

Planning to attend the event? Get directions. Hill Country Yota Works is located at 533 River City Drive, Ste. 103, New Braunfels. For more details about the event or to make an appointment with Hill Country Yota Works, stay tuned in to the website, Facebook page, Instagram page, or call the shop for details at 830-310-6070.

The above story was produced by Senior Multi Platform Journalist Summer El-Shahawy with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of its "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.