Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 04, 2026
Relay Hill Auto Acquires 50-Year Community Shop Applewood Auto Service
TLDR
- Relay Hill Auto gains a competitive edge by acquiring Applewood Auto Service, expanding its Denver metro presence while preserving trusted local expertise and customer loyalty.
- Relay Hill Auto's acquisition of Applewood Auto Service involves retaining the original location, implementing shared training programs, and integrating advanced diagnostic technology for operational enhancement.
- This acquisition preserves Applewood Auto Service's 50-year community legacy, ensuring continued honest service and supporting local artists, fostering neighborhood trust and sustainable business practices.
- Relay Hill Auto now supports local muralist Amy Jones, whose hand-painted signs add vibrant character to the acquired Applewood Auto Service shop.
Impact - Why it Matters
This acquisition matters because it represents a growing trend in the automotive service industry where larger companies are acquiring established local shops while preserving their community identities and values. For Wheat Ridge residents, this means their trusted repair shop maintains its familiar location and customer-first approach while gaining access to enhanced resources like advanced diagnostic technology and EV servicing training. The partnership demonstrates how thoughtful business consolidation can benefit both customers and employees - customers receive improved services without losing the personal touch they value, while employees gain better training and career development opportunities. In an era where independent shops often struggle against corporate chains, this model shows how legacy businesses can evolve while maintaining their core community relationships.
Summary
Relay Hill Auto has completed a strategic acquisition of Applewood Auto Service, a beloved automotive repair shop that has served the Wheat Ridge community for over five decades. This move highlights Relay Hill Auto's commitment to preserving trusted neighborhood institutions while modernizing operations through innovation and employee development. The acquisition ensures that Applewood Auto Service's legacy of honesty, craftsmanship, and long-term customer relationships will continue under new ownership, with the Osborn family expressing confidence in Relay Hill's people-first philosophy.
Founded in 1971 by the Osborn family, Applewood Auto Service has been a community fixture built and sustained across three generations. Heather Osborn emphasized that protecting what Applewood Auto Service stands for was paramount in their decision to partner with Relay Hill Auto, noting that "Relay Hill understands that this business is about people, not just cars." The shop will retain its familiar location at 4895 Ward Rd in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, maintaining its customer-first approach while gaining access to Relay Hill's resources including shared training programs, advanced diagnostic technology, and operational support to expand capabilities.
Relay Hill Auto CEO Shiju Thomas stated that the acquisition honors "a legacy built over generations," emphasizing that Applewood Auto Service's integrity and community ties align perfectly with their mission of people before profit. The company will invest in teams, facilities, and customers while supporting local artists like Amy Jones of Art Signs & Murals, known for vibrant hand-painted signs that bring character to neighborhood businesses. Relay Hill Auto operates multiple shops across the Denver metro area including Hotchkiss Auto Repair, Arvada Square Auto, Applewood Auto Care, and Advanced Transmission Center, all united by a shared goal of elevating automotive repair through integrity, education, and hospitality.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Relay Hill Auto Acquires 50-Year Community Shop Applewood Auto Service
