After 25 years of business, Pat and Roberta Kohalyk will be passing the torch over to Chris Briggs and Jay Zorn, who are set to take over Alpine Auto as new owners.
The Kohalyks built Alpine Auto from the ground up in the ’90s and are thrilled to be handing off their business to two local families who can keep the auto shop going and provide the same customer service that they’ve prided themselves on since opening.
While it’s a bittersweet farewell, Roberta Kohalyk says it’s their time to move on.
“It’s pretty much been our whole life, we’re looking forward to get our life back,” she said.
“We’re really happy to have it go to a couple of local people, we know they’re going to do really well. It’s okay, it’s just time for us to kick back and relax a little bit.”
The shop is currently closed as Briggs and Zorn prepare to take over, with a reopening date set for April 6.
Briggs and Zorn have known each other for 30 years, working together over the years with Zorn saying that Briggs taught him everything he knows on the auto industry.
Both were born and raised in Golden, with Zorn returning to the town to go into business with Briggs and take over Alpine Auto.
“It’s an honour to continue Pat’s legacy and to be trusted with this business,” said Briggs.
“It feels good that we can take over the shop and hopefully keep it running as a good business and carry on with what he built,” said Zorn.
Both said that going into business together has been something they’ve spoken about for years, starting out as a joke but seizing the opportunity when Alpine first went up for sale.
Briggs and Zorn are both grateful for the opportunity to take over the Kohalyk’s business and the support they’ve had from Roberta and Pat throughout the transition, saying that they’re welcome to come by Alpine anytime to check in.
“I’m thrilled it’s local people taking over from local families, I didn’t want some unknown person from some other community,” said Roberta.
“I know these guys are going to do great working for those in Golden.”
Kohalyk also said Alpine shows how there’s room in the industry for a locally run family operation and is glad it’s staying that way moving into the future.
