ELLSWORTH — When Bill Paider founded Courtesy Auto in 1993 and opened the current shop Dec. 9, 1995, it was always about keeping a community-first mindset. Now, as new ownership took over Dec. 9, 2025, exactly 30 years later, they are committed to the same goal.

“We heard a lot about Courtesy Auto. Since it was founded in 1993, Courtesy Auto is tight knit to the community,” new Manager Justin Chamberlain said. “It’s outlasted other shops that started after it. It basically was all about customer service and relations with the community, and so we loved it and decided to buy it for that reason. We wanted to change absolutely nothing about it, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”

Ben Adams, the new owner of the business, selected Chamberlain to manage the shop. Chamberlain spent a few weeks being trained in by Paider, and he has seen firsthand what makes the business special.

“Bill Paider, what he did was built this business from scratch, essentially, and he did it based on customer service,” Chamberlain said. “He actually cared about the customers.”

Whether it was finding a less expensive, better equipped tire to do the trick, donating to the school and its organizations or simply knowing everyone in the community by name, Chamberlain said Paider does business for the right reasons. Paider had nothing but thanks to give to the community for three decades of trust.

“The community has been great to me. I don’t have any regrets,” Paider said.

Now, passing off the business, he is thrilled the new ownership is sharing a passion for the community.

“It’s absolutely awesome that they actually want to run it like a home business instead of just coming in with this corporate attitude,” Paider said. “That’s what I was hoping for was that whoever bought it would come in and want to run it as a small-town auto repair shop.”

In his short time around town, Chamberlain has loved Ellsworth.

“I brought my wife over there about two and a half weeks ago, and she just loved the Creamery. Bill actually took me around town and showed me the town of Ellsworth. It’s a very small community, but it’s a nice place,” Chamberlain said. “Everybody knows your name. It’s very tight knit.”

“It means a lot to continue that type of customer service and help the community,” Chamberlain said.

Courtesy Auto has become loved for its auto repairs, maintenance and golf cart sales, and Chamberlain ensured the public that they will maintain all the current services, potentially adding to them down the road.

Courtesy Auto is located at W7598 US-10, Ellsworth. For more information, visit https://carellsworth.com/