Humans of Duluth: Dave's Auto in West Duluth

Dave’s Automotive stands in West Duluth and is located at 521 S. 59th Ave. W.

Randy Zblewski has worked at Dave’s Auto for three years. He is the head technician and has worked as a mechanic for 35 to 40 years.

The shop had three cars in it when LakeVoice photographer Jenae Peterson visited. On that day, Zblewski changed the power-steering reservoir on the red car, and the blue car has its motor sitting beneath it. Zblewski said there is a lot of extra space for another car or two in the shop.

Zblewski replaces a power-steering reservoir because the old one was leaking. He said he is very confident in his skills as a mechanic.

Spare parts lay on the shop floor, and there are also coffee cans lined against the wall, filled with spare parts for cars that are now gone.

Tools are organized into the toolbox in the shop. “Some drawers are messier than others,” Zblewski said. “At the end of the day, you have to reorganize it.” He said that some of the most common things that need fixing around the shop are starters, fuel pumps, and wheel barring and ball joints.

Zblewski uses a needle-nose plier to fix the part he needs in order to finish the power-steering job. He said he came to Duluth three years ago for a girl, and they have now been married three years.

Sockets line the top of a toolbox. Most of the tools are organized, but Zblewski said some of the drawers are not so neat. This particular toolbox is the only part left of Zblewski’s original toolbox, which he brought with him from Stevens Point, Wisc.

Zbleswski said he plans to stay at Dave’s Auto for as long as he can. He is not too happy about all the April snow, but he still wants to stay in Duluth, he said.