Full service is back at North Conway Gulf

By David Carkhuff

A throwback to the full-service filling station of the 1950s, North Conway Village Gulf & Automotive on Route 16 in North Conway is striving to earn a reputation for friendly, old-fashioned service.Owner Jeff Hinton opened the station on July 20. His employees include head mechanic Jeff Desiata and attendants Tom Leonard, Greg Jacques and Eric Rossignol. "The big thing that I've been trying to do is make sure we offer service," Hinton said.A small gesture such as cleaning a car's windows leaves an impression on customers, Hinton said. The station also provides oil changes, tune-ups and other automotive work and sells tires. By the end of October, Hinton hopes to conduct state inspections.Jeff and his wife, Susan, have run a flag and kite store called Sky's the Limit in Wolfeboro seasonally for 11 years. Jeff Hinton said he realized that opening a service station in North Conway would present a new challenge. He continues to devote time to his 3-year-old son, Matthew, but he acknowledges that the commute takes a bite out of his day. Hinton said he has received support from his father, Jim, who lives in Sharon, Mass., and helps with the station's bookkeeping. His employees have made the station successful as well, he said."I've got a good crew. I don't have to look over their shoulder," he said.North Conway Village Gulf & Automotive, located across from Eastern Slope Inn Resort, is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Sunday, when the station is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To schedule an appointment for vehicle repairs, call (603) 356-0203.