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Family support makes Parkrose auto shop possible

AMBER MCKENNA
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO

In January, East Canyon Collision & Automotive Services opened for business in Parkrose. Brothers Hieu and Hau Vu built the structure on land they purchased in 2008. Employees and owners are, from left, Phuc Tran, Minh Tran, Thai Pham, brothers Hieu, Henry and Hal Vu and Osman Moncada. Opening East Canyon Auto Collision and Automotive Repair was goal made possible for brothers Hieu and Hau, “Hal” Vu through the support of his family.
MEMO PHOTO: AMBER MCKENNA
The crisp, clean office of East Canyon Auto Collision and Automotive Repair contrasts greatly with the busy, grease-ridden shop just beyond its doors.

Finishing up his work day wearing a big smile and a Lexus hat is owner Hau “Hal” Vu (for English speakers ease, he changed a vowel in his name to a consonant and calls himself Hal).

“We've been busy, busy today,” he said.

Vu is more than happy to be busy, though. He opened East Canyon Auto Collision and Automotive Repair at 11700 N.E. Sandy Blvd. with older brother, Hieu, on Jan. 16.

“When we built this shop everyone got their hand in there,” Vu said.

By everyone, Vu means his brothers and sisters and parents. The East Canyon Auto logo is an eight-pointed star which represents Vu, his brother Hieu and six other family investors, he says.

Vu says he remembers when his family emigrated from Saigon, Vietnam in 1996 and came to Portland.

“Everyone [in the family] wanted to be a doctor, nurse or engineer - but I liked cars,” he said. “Everyone needs cars; it's supply and demand.”

Vu worked hard for years to save up for his shop, but says he couldn't have started without the strong support of his family. Vu describes his family as “very close,” and says that he, his siblings and their families go to their parent's house every weekend for a dinner or barbeque.

“Mom and dad taught us how to be good people,” he said.

Before his family came to America, Vu says, he didn't have the opportunity to go to school. But after coming to Portland he got an education, learned English and began working. That meant doing anything a non-English speaking Vietnamese immigrant can do: picking strawberries, washing dishes, doing assembly line and warehouse work in order to earn a living while he went to automotive school. In his spare time he hung out at wrecking yards, picking up bits of car part knowledge.

After immigrating to Oregon in 1982, older brother Hieu Vu opened his own auto repair and collision shop in 2005 on Southeast 82nd Avenue and Yamhill Street before combining effort and capital with younger brother Hal in 2007 to purchase the land in Parkrose. Construction started on East Canyon Auto's 32,000 square foot lot in June 2009, and six months later, the Vus opened shop.

Vu said much credit is due to Thai Son, the architect who designed the shop.

“I don't think without [Son] this place could have succeeded,” says Vu. “He's a really good person.”

Things were rough at first for the new shop owners who have relied on word of mouth to bring them business.

“Business was tough in the first couple of months, but it's picked up because of the neighborhood and people recommend us to each other,” says Vu. East Canyon Auto also does some fleet work for car dealers.

Vu says his customers come from all over the Portland metro area and proudly points to a card he keeps pinned to the wall behind his desk.

“We get cards like this one, thanking us for our service,” he said. “This was my first card - from a guy in Oregon City, and he's come back.”

Vu says his philosophy on doing business is to treat people right and be honest, and noted that a lot of shops tend to charge more and tack additional services on to customers' invoices. This philosophy extends to include his six employees, too.

“I don't want to under-treat them,” he says. “I've worked places where I've been treated right and places where I've been treated wrong.”

Most of all, Vu says he wants to say thank you to his customers.

“Portland is a great city to live and do business,” he says. “Portland, for me, is the last city and the first city. I'll live here for the rest of my life.”

East Canyon Auto Collision and Automotive Repair does full body, transmission and engine work, as well as painting on all makes and models of vehicles. For more information go to www.eastcanyonauto.com or call 503-760-6552.
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