Mustang Lube moves across RR 1431, and farther down the road

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — Bernie Sachs never imagined at the age of 74 he would be uprooting his business, Mustang Lube and Brakes, and taking it on the road. And across it.

“I didn’t plan on any of this,” said Sachs outside his business at 1604 RR 1431 in Marble Falls. “If you came to me five months ago, I wouldn’t haven’t been able to tell you any of this would have happened.”

Sachs started Mustang Lube and Brakes 16 years ago. He built it just down the road from H-E-B in Marble Falls and honestly thought that’s where he would stay until his retirement. But as H-E-B began looking at expansion, his building and property — which included its well-known putting green — were ideal for the grocery store.

Sachs, however, wasn’t ready to retire. But instead of standing in the way of progress, he took local businessman Bill Bray’s offer to move his station across the street into a former pet store. At first, Sachs wasn’t sure the old building would work out, but an early rendering of what it could become changed his mind.

“I was like, ‘Wow, you can do that?'” Sachs said.

After a major renovation of the new facility, which includes more space, bays in the back for repairs and many other improvements, Sachs and his crew went back to work.

But the changes weren’t done. At an age when many people look to slow down or downsize, Sachs decided to expand.

So, earlier this year, a moving crew jacked up his old building, loaded it up and moved it to a piece of property in Kingsland, where it’s now open for business.

“I followed them to Kingsland, and they had to slalom across the (1431) bridge,” Sachs said. “Yeah, now I have two shops. Now for those who are wondering, I’m moving the putting green to Kingsland. And it will be much larger.”

The Kingsland location is at 413 RR 1431.

Both locations offer full lube services, automotive repair, state inspections and brake jobs. Sachs said his guys have been offering brake services for several years, but most people didn’t realize it because of such an emphasis on oil changes.

“But we can do brakes,” he said. “We even have our own lathe here and turn the rotors ourselves. We don’t send them out,” Sachs said.

The new Marble Falls location offers his crew and customers much more space. The repair area had been outside in the elements at the previous location, but now it’s all enclosed.

Customers also will find a mural painted by Sachs on one of the walls. The painting features a herd of mustangs racing across a landscape. While Sachs is a successful businessman, he’s a well-regarded artist as well.

Whether in a new building or location, Sachs said it doesn’t matters if you don’t provide great customer service, which is the heart of his business model. It’s not about changing oil. Sachs and his crew’s mission goes deeper.

“Why should changing oil be a boring necessity?” Sachs asked. “It’s about serving people and being a blessing to them. Put a smile on their face. Look at me, I never saw this coming. But here I am at the tender age of 74 doing more and still serving. It’s all because of Him.”

Sachs and his crew are inviting the community to come out May 2 and celebrate the grand opening at both Mustang Lube locations. Call Mustang Lube at (830) 798-0153 for more information.

daniel@thepicayune.com