New tire and auto service shop set to open in Mariposa

By Dan Tucker

A new tire and automotive service business is scheduled to open Monday, Aug. 3, at a familiar Jessie Street location across from the Mariposa County Post Office.

Country Tires and Auto LLC, operated by new proprietor Jamey Corbett, will occupy the shop space at 5094 Jessie St., Suite C, on the lower side of the Stage Stop Mini Mart building. The address has long been associated with tire and service work in Mariposa, most recently under former operator Aaron VanderKarr.

Corbett said he purchased the equipment, but not the previous business, and is preparing to launch Country Tires and Auto with a focus on straightforward service, reliable workmanship and fair prices.

“We’re committed to providing honest service, quality workmanship and fair pricing — because that’s what our community deserves,” Corbett and his wife, Sarah, wrote in a social media announcement.

“We’ll handle tire replacement and repair, along with basic maintenance and service work such as oil changes, brakes, shocks and some front-end repairs,” Corbett said. “Because the location has limited space and parking, he said the goal is to complete jobs efficiently and return vehicles to the road as quickly as possible.”

“We have limited space and parking here, so we want to do jobs in a timely manner to get them in and out and back on the road,” Corbett said. “We won’t do engine overhauls and jobs like that.”

Regular hours are planned for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, though Corbett said the schedule may be adjusted depending on customer needs.

Corbett said the business will not initially carry a large tire inventory because of storage limitations, though it may keep several common sizes on hand. He said arrangements with a tire supplier are nearly complete, and the shop is awaiting hazardous waste and tire disposal permits. Even so, he said the business plans to open next week and provide whatever services it can while final preparations continue.

Corbett, who has a mechanical background, moved to Mariposa after visiting the community with his wife about a year ago. “We fell in love with it, so we decided to see if we couldn’t move here,” he said. Sarah Corbett is expected to remain on the sidelines of the operation, though her family name, Rauch, has longstanding roots in Mariposa County. They have two young children, both girls. One is attending Mariposa Elementary School and the other is a newborn.

Appointments may be made by calling (209) 347-5433 or emailing ctamariposa@gmail.com.