Photo by Ryan Ottney | Daily Times

Automania is now open on Rhodes Avenue in New Boston, with Josh’s I-Repair, President of the Board Skate Shop, and Bee in Touch.

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Ryan Scott Ottney

PDT Staff Writer

NEW BOSTON — Automania is now open at its new location in New Boston and owner Marty Mohr has brought a few of his friends. The new building on Rhodes Avenue is also the new location of Josh’s I-Repair, President of the Board Skate Shop, and Bee in Touch cellular services.

Mohr first opened Automania on Eighth Street in 1989, offering window tinting. The business quickly grew to include custom paint and detailing and car stereo systems. Mohr said he outgrew his building pretty quickly and in 1994 moved to a larger building on Gallia Street in Portsmouth. After more than 20 years in Portsmouth, Mohr packed up his shop and built a new, even larger, location on Rhodes Avenue in New Boston.

“I attempted to buy this property (in New Boston) a long time ago, and it was a little pricey for me. I wanted to be on the main drag. When I semi-retired, I put my building (on Gallia Street) up for sale and it didn’t work out. I decided to come back a year ago last October, and then after several months someone approached me about buying the property so I let them have it. I saw this property was still available and made an offer on it, and the owner of the property was very gracious to sell me the property at the price I wanted to pay him,” Mohr said.

Ground was broken on the new construction in October 2012, and Automania opened its doors in New Boston in January. Through his business, Mohr installs audio and video services in your home, office or vehicle. Three more businesses are joining Automania in New Boston.

Mohr said he bought all the inventory from a skate shop in Grove City, and opened President of the Board Skate Shop. Offering boards, trucks, and skate supplies, Mohr said President of the Board is the only skate shop in the tri-state region.

Another big partner, Mohr said, is Greg Ross and Bee in Touch, offering mobile devices, prepaid AT&T and Verizon cellular plans and contract nTelos plans.

“I’ve seen this whole 12-volt accessory industry do a major shift. I’ve been in it for 20-plus years, and we’ve been seeing a trend for a long time (customers spending more money on phones and less on car stereos). Our biggest competitors is the Internet and the cell phone business,” Mohr said.

Bringing Bee in Touch in house, Mohr said, allows him and Ross to share their customer base and divide their overhead expense, which helps both businesses.

“It’s been awesome. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people,” Mohr said.

And if you ever damage your mobile device, you can call Josh Smith at Josh’s I-Repair in the shop. Smith offers repairs on all mobile devices, including phones and tablets.

He said the move to New Boston has been excellent for business, and while Portsmouth was good for him at the time, he just wanted more visibility on the main road and the village has been great to work with. Anyone interested in Automania, Josh’s I-Repair, President of the Board Skate Shop, or Bee in Touch, can call the shop at 740-727-2233.

Automania is also available on Facebook.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 287, or rottney@civitasmedia.com.