Seventy years, three generations and endless passion
BY ANGELA O’GRADY
Marcel’s Collision, a family run business in Windsor Ontario set up shop in 1951 and hasn’t left since.
The shop, originally called Marcel’s Service Garage, was established by Marcel Marier. As the years went by Marcels brother, Jerome Marier, became more involved and eventually became the sole owner in 1980.
“We owe a big tribute to Dad,” says Marc Marier, Jerome’s son and current owner. “He’s the legacy of this company.”
Marc and his brother TJ took over in 1990, and their father planned to retire. But after TJ’s unexpected passing in 1997 Jerome stayed to help Marc run the business.
Marcel’s was initially a service shop. Marc shares a laugh as he reminisces on the changes the shop has been through over the last 70 years.
“There was a time they sold hamburgers for crying out loud,” he says. Now, 70 years after opening, Marcel’s isn’t just a collision repair shop, they also sell and lease cars, and remain a staple in the community of Windsor-Essex.
Marc has been the sole owner of Marcels Collision since 2015—but not for much longer. ““I’ve been there 40 years myself. I just announced my semi-retirement a few weeks ago,” said Marc. “I’ll be passing the reins on to my daughter, Michelle.”
Michelle Marier-Whitehead signed on as the company’s financial controller in 2012 and will soon take over the business. Marc attributes the success of the business to “a lot of hard work, and a very, very loyal client base.”
“Our family name is trusted in the community,” said Marier-Whitehead. “Everyone knows the Marier family. I’m the third generation to come into the business and I think that goes a long way.”
Marier-Whitehead notes that car repairs can be pricey, and often people feel as though they are taken advantage of when it comes time to bring their car in for repairs. She says that the trust her family has built in their community has allowed them to gain the client base that has kept them operating over the past 70 years. Marc says that his shop doesn’t just give out bills, they make sure people know what they’re paying for.
“We work for the customer,” he says. “We don’t just write an estimate, we educate them first. And I know my daughter will take that to the next generation.”
In a constantly evolving industry like automotive repair, keeping a local, family run shop running can be tough – but Michelle doesn’t plan on throwing in the towel any time soon. “Making sure we have all of the equipment and training that the industry will require in order to be certified to service all makes and models – domestic and foreign – will keep a lot of doors open for us,” said Michelle.
Marcel’s Collision website calls their shop a testament to the strength and power of family. Both Marc and Michelle are proud to be a part of three generations of local business owners.
“There’s not too many independent shops around anymore,” said Michelle, “We’re exceedingly proud that our name has been able to stick around and lead to our success.”
“Our family name is trusted in the community. Everyone knows the Marier family.”
– Michelle Marier-Whitehead, financial controller and future owner of Marcel’s Collision
