115 Years of McClure’s Garage: A Gurnee Legacy

In 2025, McClure’s Garage celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 115 years of continuous operation in Gurnee, Illinois. In an era when most small businesses struggle to survive their first decade, and when family-owned auto shops are increasingly rare, this anniversary represents something remarkable.

The Chicago Tribune recently featured McClure’s Garage, calling us a “Gurnee pioneer” and highlighting how unusual it is for a small family business to thrive for over a century. The Village of Gurnee Chamber of Commerce also recognized our anniversary with a public congratulation—an acknowledgment that McClure’s isn’t just an old business, but a valued part of the community.

So how did a small auto repair shop survive 115 years? The answer is simpler than you might think.

1910: The Beginning

When McClure’s Garage opened in 1910, Gurnee looked nothing like it does today. There was no Six Flags, no Gurnee Mills, no sprawling subdivisions. Gurnee was a quiet farming community, and automobiles were still a novelty—expensive, unreliable, and owned only by the wealthy.

But the McClure family saw the future. They recognized that the automobile would change everything, and they positioned themselves to serve a community that would increasingly depend on cars and trucks.

In those early days, the work was different. Hand-crank starters. Flathead engines. No computers, no diagnostics—just mechanical skill and problem-solving. But the principles were the same: do honest work, charge fair prices, and treat customers like neighbors.

Surviving the Decades

Over 115 years, McClure’s Garage has weathered challenges that would have closed most businesses:

• The Great Depression (1930s): When money was scarce, people needed to keep their cars running rather than buying new ones. McClure’s helped families stretch every mile out of their vehicles.
• World War II (1940s): With new car production halted for the war effort, maintenance and repair became essential. McClure’s kept civilian vehicles on the road while supporting the war effort.
• The Rise of Imports (1970s-80s): When Japanese cars arrived and challenged American automakers, McClure’s adapted—learning new systems, new technology, and serving customers regardless of what they drove.
• The Computer Age (1990s-present): When vehicles became rolling computers, McClure’s invested in diagnostic equipment and training. Today’s technicians work with the same dedication as the original mechanics, just with different tools.
• Consolidation and Competition: While chain shops and dealership service centers have multiplied, McClure’s has survived by doing what they can’t: providing personal, honest, relationship-based service.

What Makes 115 Years Possible?

Surviving for over a century isn’t an accident. It requires:

• Adaptability: The auto industry has changed constantly—from carburetors to fuel injection, from points to electronic ignition, from purely mechanical systems to hybrids and electric vehicles. McClure’s has embraced every change rather than resisting it.
• Integrity: In an industry often plagued by mistrust, McClure’s has built its reputation on honesty. No unnecessary repairs. No surprise charges. Clear explanations and written estimates. When you do right by customers, they come back—and they tell their friends.
• Community Roots: McClure’s isn’t owned by distant investors or a national corporation. The same family that started the business still runs it. They live in the community, raise their families here, and have a stake in the area’s success.
• Quality Work: Ultimately, nothing else matters if the work isn’t good. McClure’s has always prioritized doing the job right the first time—and standing behind it if something goes wrong.

Four Generations and Counting

What makes McClure’s Garage truly special is the continuity of family ownership. Four generations of the McClure family have run this business, each passing down not just ownership, but values.

The fourth generation grew up in the shop, learning from parents and grandparents who learned from their parents and grandparents. That kind of institutional knowledge—combined with modern training and technology—creates something you can’t replicate.

When a customer brings in a vehicle, they’re not dealing with a technician who’s been on the job for six months. They’re dealing with expertise that spans generations and encompasses over a century of automotive history.

Looking Forward

As McClure’s Garage enters its 116th year, the automotive industry continues to evolve. Electric vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems, connected cars—the technology keeps changing.

But some things don’t change. People still need reliable transportation. They still want to work with mechanics they can trust. They still value honest assessments and fair prices.

McClure’s Garage has adapted to every change the industry has thrown at it for 115 years. We’ll keep adapting. Because that’s what it takes to earn another 115 years of trust.

Thank You, Gurnee

To the customers who have trusted us for generations—some of you bringing in cars your grandparents first drove to our shop—thank you. To the Gurnee community that has supported a small family business through good times and bad, thank you.

Here’s to the next 115 years.

Experience 115 Years of Expertise

Whether you need an oil change, a major repair, or 24/7 towing, McClure’s Garage is here for you—just like we’ve been here for Gurnee since 1910.

Phone: 847-662-1050
Address: 4409 Old Grand Ave, Gurnee, IL 60031