It all started in 1941...
In Hamtramck, MI at the corner of Conant and Yemans, in the former Northeast Auto Replacement Parts building. Gentile's Service was established by Michael A. Gentile Sr. as a full service mechanical shop along with collision repair and painting and a large scale towing/road service operation. Mike Sr. worked with his son Mike Jr. along with Ginger Taflan, who joined the company as a co-op student and became the company's longtime bookkeeper.
As Mike Jr. became more involved with the company and the day to day running of the business, Mike Sr. devoted more and more time to the Moslem Temple Shriners, a brotherhood of men committed to philanthropy, most notably the Shriners Hospitals for Children. He worked his way tirelessly through the organization, attaining such positions as Illustrious Potentate (1968),Treasurer (1969), Recorder (1979) and many more. Although no Gentile's are currently active with the Shriners organization, Gentile's Collision still proudly continues to support the Shriners Hospital Fund Drive.
In the late 1950's, Mike Jr. bought out Mike Sr. and became the sole owner of Gentile's Service. The business continued to grow and eventually Mike Jr's. son Mike III began working for the company, first as a tow truck driver and eventually as a manager. He has since gone on to another career.
By the mid 70's with the city of Hamtramck in decline, Mike Jr. decided it was time to open another location and move Gentile's Service. Since he had been raising his family in Shelby Township since 1963, he chose the current location in Shelby Township which was originally the Utica Community Schools bus storage building and also at one time a tool & die business.
In 1979 Gentile's Collision opened in Shelby Township and Ginger became Mike's business partner. By then Mike's youngest son Mark had been working in the business after school and summers for many years. In 1986 Mark made an agreement to purchase Ginger's shares of the business and became his fathers partner. Ginger continued on with the company, making the long drive from Hamtramck daily. In 1990 with the business growing, Mike's daughter Melanie joined the company as office manager.
By 1992 Gentile's Collision had outgrown the original building and the first addition of 3,600 square feet was added along with the renovation of the front of the building and offices. Needing more space a second addition of 4,500 square feet was finished in 1995.
Sadly Ginger Taflan passed away in 1996 and is greatly missed by all that had the opportunity to know her. The following year the Gentile's had yet another great loss when Mike Jr. passed away unexpectedly at the age of 62. He had become an established and well-liked businessman in the Shelby Township community. To this day he is greatly missed but his vision of a successful collision business had become a reality.
