Now he operates a fast-growing business where he repairs machines large and small.
He employs around seven people during the height of the summer season. He refers to his 10 year-old dog Brady, a German Shepherd, as one of his permanent staff members.
“He’s diabetic, so I started bringing him to work so I could watch his sugar,” he said. “He loves people. People come in just to see him.”
Name: The Mower Shop, 5850 North Main Street, Dayton
What the business does: "We repair small engines and outdoor power equipment from small chainsaws to snow blowers to huge landscaping equipment like commercial mowers," said Adinolfi.
That’s the short answer. The business actually has a long list of services and capabilities, including welding and fabrication, as well as selling new outdoor power equipment.
What makes the business stand out: Someone from the shop will pick up and deliver equipment.
“I give people the opportunity to get their equipment serviced and maintained who normally aren’t able to – they can’t lift it or get it into their car. We try to do whatever we can to help our customers out. We’re different.”
How the business started: "One day I went out to till the yard for a garden and the tiller was broken, so I rebuilt the carburetor and it started right up. That's when I thought I might be on to something here. So I put an ad on Craigslist saying that I could fix Weedeaters, blowers and lawnmowers, and I ended up with over 340 pieces of equipment to fix that first year! I had all this stuff in my yard and realized I had to get a building to put it in because that wasn't going to work. I had over 600 pieces of equipment my second year, and it just kept growing. Last year we had over 3,000 pieces. In May, we'll be starting our fifth year in business."
Customer comment: After taking his snow blower to another shop and being told there was no hope, Ron Smith, of Dayton brought the item to Adinolfi.
“After an inspection, Tom diagnosed the problem to be in the carburetor, and it just required a good cleaning and fuel flush. As a result, Tom saved me over $499 – the cost of a new unit,” he said.
Contact information: Phone, 937-279-3800; www.themowershop.info; and email, themowershop@woh.rr.com. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
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