Posted on 8/25/2017
In a region known for its rapid growth, perhaps no neighborhood is a better model for the pace of change than the Village of Shirlington. And Shirlington Service Center has been a part of the story since nearly the beginning. Our little shop started as a Gulf station in the 1950's, back when Shirlington was a small retail center created to support the burgeoning community growing up around the new Pentagon building and related military outposts. Residents could drop their car off while dining at the local Hot Shoppes or shopping at one of the shops in the village. As the area grew, the business thrived. In 1972, Frank Palaio was getting ready to retire and head to Florida. One of his vendors, Ray Bowes, had his eye on the shop and made Frank an offer he couldn't refuse. Frank sold the shop and Ray began his 45 year tenure as owner and operator of Shirlington Service Center. Ray has grown this little shop into one of the foremost automotive repair fac ... read more