PINE PLAINS — A new auto shop has opened in Pine Plains, picking up right where the old one left off.
The former home of Pine Plains Truck & Auto is now Talus Automotive, a family-run venture with deep roots in Pine Plains.
The new shop offers a variety of services, from oil changes to brake jobs, for hot rods and everyday vehicles alike. Giacomo Meccariello, a Pine Plains native, is running the shop with the help of his wife, Megan, and son, Emmett.
Megan is originally from Alabama, but spent summers at her mother’s childhood home in Poland, New York. That’s how she met Giacomo, and the couple later worked together at Sugar Hill Farm’s Cut Facility.
When word reached the cut facility that Sugar Hill was buying the auto shop and looking for partners, Giacomo and Megan leapt at the chance. Giacomo is multi-talented — “I like doing things,” he professed — and had worked on cars since childhood. Megan runs the front office and billing, and Emmett helps out wherever he can.
They have big shoes to fill. The shop’s previous owner, Bruce Near, “is a really good guy who enjoys helping people,” Meccariello said. “I want to contribute and follow in his footsteps in terms of helping the town out. Everybody’s in need of a mechanic.”
The Meccariellos worked with the property’s new owner to make a number of renovations to the building. They raised the roof, added trusses, and installed guillotine doors. They also built a new waiting room and added bathrooms. A fresh coat of paint and new signage completed the makeover.
Meccariello says Talus is sourcing locally in order to lower costs for his customers. “There are a lot of local shops that we use for parts,” he said, “and they’ve been extremely good to work with. They provide us with decent pricing, so we can pass that along to the customer.”
An oil change at Talus, while dependent on make and model, will run about $80. They’re also making specials a priority: a recent Father’s Day special meant a 15% discount, and Meccariello says there’s more to come in the months ahead. The overarching message, he says, is to welcome people in.
“We want people to know that we’re here to provide a service for them. A lot of people lost their go-to guy when the previous owner left, so this will provide another option and opportunity for them and us. Plus it’s nice to spend time together as a family.”
Talus Automotive is located at 2700 NY-199 in Pine Plains. They’re open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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