Lepper is at your service

New multi-service garage opening in Amherst

Matthew Lepper is hoping to revitalize an old building that was once one of the hubs of downtown Amherst.

Lepper is opening his new multi-service garage, Lep’s Garage, on May 6.

The new business will be located in the same building, 139 Victoria St., that housed Duffy’s Esso for more than 50 years.

Duffy’s Esso was a full- service gas station at the heart of downtown Amherst from 1963 to 2014.

Since closing, the building had sat vacant. That is until now.

Growing up in Amherst, Lepper remembers Duffy’s Esso as a place where everyone went to get their gas.

“There were always people there,” he told The Cumberland Wire. “I wasn’t driving or anything back then, but mom would stop in there for the full service.”

Now, like Duffy’s before him, Lepper is trying to use his business savvy to give back to the community.

Lepper was born and raised in Amherst before leaving to gain education and business experience in Halifax for 12 years.

Since returning home with his wife and two kids, his plan has been to invest back into the town he grew up in and loved.

“Amherst needs people to move back and invest their time and experience,” he said.

With his background in finance, Lepper started a brokerage with a team of professionals that help people get mortgages, financial insurance advice and investment planning.

But he saw other areas of need and decided he want to branch out.

“After doing some research, no one was doing it,” he said. “There’s nothing else like this in town. There are commercial dealerships that sometimes do tire storage and oil changes. They usually work on newer cars but there’s a large market for used vehicles.”

Lepper is hoping by opening a new multi-purpose garage, it will create jobs in Amherst and make this old community hub thrive once again.

To begin, he will employ two mechanics and two propane attendants.

The garage will include three large bays that will each have a different purpose. For one of the bays, no appointments will be necessary for oil and lube change.

Lepper believes this will help people who are on the go and need minor mechanic work can have easy access to a mechanic without the wait.

The back bay will be used as tire storage. According to Lepper, the aging populace of Amherst are downsizing and are losing room to store tires. With an on-site mechanic, Lep’s Garage can store and install tires while folks sit back and enjoy a coffee.

The third bay will have a hoist and be accessible to all local mechanics to rent.

“Doing my research, there are a lot of local mechanics missing out on business because they don’t have space for a hoist,” Lepper explained. “This opens up an opportunity for them.”

Oil and lube changes will be available from Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lep’s Garage will also have a propane fill-up station.

From Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., a trained attendant will be present to fill up your propane tank.

“There is a need in Cumberland County for this, as people are going 20 minutes away, sometimes further, to save money on propane,” Lepper stated. “We will be inexpensive and keep people shopping in Amherst.”

He says it was about a month’s work to get the building prepared for the May 6 opening.

Painting had to be done, gyprock needed to be installed, and washroom utilities needed to be reinstalled and plumbed.

A new roof and new electrical had been installed by the previous owner before Lepper bought the building.

When he spoke to The Cumberland Wire, Lepper was excited to get up and running.

“I’m very excited to get this to the residents of Amherst and Cumberland County, so they can have a multi-service garage,” he said.

“I’m very excited to get this to the residents of Amherst and Cumberland County, so they can have a multi-service garage.”

Matthew Lepper

Lep’s Garage owner