Passing the Torch: Next generation takes the reins at Redmond Automotive
October 2025
John Redmond and his young family came to Traverse City in 1985 on a leap of faith.
Redmond worked with his father and brothers in the auto repair business down in Saginaw, specializing in accessories like cruise control, air conditioning and sound systems in addition to general repairs. Over the years, they noticed that a lot of their customers came from up north.
So why not head up north, plant a stake in the ground and start a shop closer to those customers?
Redmond came up with virtually no connections. Every new customer had to be earned. Every job was a precious gift. But what started small 40 years ago eventually blossomed into one of the region’s most dependable, trusted (and busy) auto repair shops.
It wasn’t some magic formula, special pricing or inside knowledge that built Redmond Automotive into what it is today, John says. It was just a lot of hard work, straight shooting and following through.
“I think in the automotive industry – in any industry, really – honesty is your key. Build that trust. But it really does take time. You can’t just do it overnight,” he said. “Just make sure you do everything right, and the best advertising will be word of mouth.”
In September, Redmond passed the business on to his four children – Mike, Jacob and Dan Redmond and Kate Gallagher – all of whom have worked with him for decades. It was always his dream to hand his business off to his kids, but for a variety of reasons, such things are never guaranteed.
Sitting in his Eighth Street shop, surrounded by those kids, he beamed with pride as he discussed passing the torch.
“They’ve got to be in it and they’ve got to love it. And these guys are both,” he said. “They’ve shown it and they’ve proven it. They’ve worked so hard, and I’m so excited and happy that we can do this.”
A family business
Redmond’s children, ages 30 to 45, have all worked for their dad in one way or another since they were little kids running around the shop floor. They were doing real, meaningful work and learning real, meaningful things in the way that only happens when you’re the child of a business owner.
Mike Redmond was maybe six or eight years old when he started getting his own hands dirty.
“[Dad would] be working after hours, getting stuff done, and it was just cool to be down there with him. Just to be by his side and watch, maybe take out a bolt or two,” he said. “I’d learn how to use a ratchet and the difference between the socket sizes, then how to put it all away in order.”
All in all, the siblings have loads of good memories about growing up in the car repair business.
“My dad always had to road test every vehicle that came in, before we worked on it and after,” Kate said. “So [us kids] have been picked up from school in a limousine, old beater pickup trucks, you name it. It’s such a fun memory. We never knew what we’d be riding in or what to look for.”
They all work full time at the shop full time now (a fifth sibling, Tilly Hill, is a special education teacher) and have worked at the shop for most of their lives. Not for every minute of their collective working careers, but mostly.
“I’ve traveled out a couple of times, but I’ve always ended up back here,” Jacob said.
John and his children report a remarkably harmonious working relationship that has developed over the decades. Each knows how the others tick. Each has the others’ backs.
“Fortunately we all get along, so that’s a big plus for sure,” Jacob said. “We do have fun … and I think any of us would do anything for each other.”
“There’s not any one of us that could do this without the others,” Dan added. “We’re all parts in the [machine], and if one of us is out of it for too long, it hurts. That’s for sure.”
They are different enough, though, to provide a full spectrum of options for any personality that might walk through the door. Over the years, this has meant that certain customers gravitate to certain siblings.
“Even though it sounds silly, we all have our own people that come in,” Mike said. “Someone only wants to talk to me, doesn’t want to talk to my dad or anyone else. I’m their guy.”
Work sometimes takes people away from family more often than they’d like. The folks at Redmond consider themselves lucky that they’ve got to spend their careers side by side, for (mostly) better and worse.
“We’re family, and we’re always together. You get done with the day here, and it’s like ‘Who’s showing up for the cookout?'” Dan said. “It’s just what we are – a tight family. It’s been a great experience.”
Mike's son Gabe also works for the business, marking the third generation at the Traverse City shop.
There are, of course, some longtime non-family members who work there and are pretty much as good as family, to hear the Redmonds tell it.
“We can't do it without them,” John said. “You’ve got to have good workers behind you, and they are just fantastic.”
Passing the torch
John RedmondJohn worked with his dad, John Sr., who started his business back in the 1930s. It was always in the back of his mind that he’d like to hand his own business off to his children when the time came for him to retire.
But would they want it? Would they be ready?
“When you have a son or a daughter and they're young, you just don’t know what they're going to want to do,” he said. “But as time goes on and they get settled in, you can see what their likes are, their dislikes, how much heart they put into the business. As they got older and I got older, you could see that this is something that was going to work.”
In his own way he tested the kids over the years, and they’ve passed with flying colors.
“How involved do you want to be? How much do you want this?” John said. “These are things [they’ve shown me] on a daily basis.”
From a technical, operations and pure business standpoint, John has no doubt that the next generation is ready to carry the torch.
“They know a lot more at this age than I did in this business,” he said. “And these guys have not only learned from me, but they've also learned from themselves. That's a big deal. It’s a sign of maturity.”
The kids themselves are invested and ready to take the reins.
“That's why I've been in it for 25 years,” Dan said. “You're not going to stick around something for 25 years if you don't think you're going to be a main part of it at some point. That’s the idea.”
There will be four decision-makers now instead of one (at least on paper), but in many ways things will be like they’ve always been.
“I can tell you right now that the last 20 years, [Dad] has talked to all of us before 90% of big decisions were made,” Mike said. “He always talks to us before he pulls the trigger.”
The Redmond siblings are very aware of how different their situation is when compared to their father’s experience 40 years ago. They get to take over a successful, thriving business with a deep customer base – something their dad had to build from scratch. They feel, therefore, a tremendous responsibly to continue that success.
“What [my dad] did, it’s a cliché I guess, but it was the American dream. He did it. I think that’s pretty awesome,” Jacob said. “To have the opportunity to continue that, I don’t know, I really can’t even put it into words. It’s bad ass. I don’t know how else to say it.”
The siblings don’t plan to change much about the business, though they all feel the pressure to keep making steps forward, even if they’re small ones.
“I’m of the mindset that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” Mike said. “That said, every day you want to do better. You want to do more. Build your client base and your income. Take better care of people … Dad taught us that you have to invest in the business, and the business will take care of you.”
That will mean staying abreast of trends within the automotive business and in general, Kate adds.
“We take a lot of pride in staying relevant. Things like education, technology, tools, equipment, things our mechanics know,” she said. “It’s a continual goal to stay on top of that kind of stuff.”
As for John, he’s now in “slow-down mode.” He’s not interested in fully retiring, but he also probably won’t be around as much.
“It's been a great ride, and now I'm just pumping the brakes,” he said. “I have no anticipation of leaving. I still want to see my customers, I still want to stay involved, but the day-to-day stuff is moving on to the next generation … I have fun every day, and when I don’t have fun, it’ll be time to go.”
