I had heard about a man who was somewhat of a cultural icon and hero to gear heads in the area in and around Stanton, KY. “Joey” was all I knew him as.
I had just recently purchased some exhaust parts to go with my existing exhaust which was somewhat pieced together. Unfortunately, there were not enough parts in my personal “parts arsenal” to make it work. After discussing my issue with a great brother from Church, he said, “If you could just get it to Joey...” so, I decided to go to Joey.
I’m not a paid “reviewer”, nor journalist. I’m a Pastor. And this is my experience with the man, the myth, the legend that is “Joey’s Muffler Shop” in Stanton, KY.
My brother/friend told me to get to his shop about 7:00am. Via Google, I saw his shop opened at 9am weekdays and 7am Saturdays. I assumed my friend meant “get there at 7am if you go on Saturday”. So, I mistakenly waited till 9am. Four others were already ahead of me. The first man there had arrived at 7:30. The second was there about 7:45. I was now number five on the list.
At 9am, the shop door opened and Joey stepped outside. Around 6 feet tall, black hair. “Who’s first, he said with his back against the wall while looking down and writing with pen and paper. He had three primary questions:
1.) who’s next?
2.) what are you driving?
3.) what do you need?
And, Joey was a man on a mission.
His personality was direct. Abrupt. To the point. It was honest and it had an edge that made you wonder if he was just old-school or if he had just slammed his finger in his truck door. It was startling and, actually, hilarious. It was down right funny to me. As he went through each man there, their vehicle and what they needed, I was positively entertained.
These men all drove from another city (43 miles in my case) and were waiting in line for up to an hour and a half before he opened. And, this happened everyday. With a fluent knowledge of his field, an incredibly sharp eye along with “all the warmth and tenderness of a seasick crocodile“, one thing became absolutely clear. I started to realize that Joey must, indeed, be the BEST! Then, he went to work.
No joke; watching what were, obviously, years of experience and knowledge surface and unfurl in a man who was a mixture of sandpaper and a paint brush. An artist that is as careful as a doctor and as precise as a surgeon, and, at times, as subtil as a brick to the face. I was mind blown.
Make no mistake. My observations of Joey are not meant to be insulting. Quite the contrary. I was blown away. I realized that he has to be the best.
At one point one of his (obviously) old friends showed up and I watched a smile cross his face. He was quite glad to see this friend who was also in a Mustang. Same color as mine, too. White. His friend asked how far down the list he was, Joey sharply responded, “About a mile.” When he smiled and laughed with his friend I realized that the cyborg was actually human. When I heard he and his friend interact with that old-school, old friend wit, I realized that Joey wasn’t a respecter of persons, per say. He was just raspy and smooth at the same time - with everybody. It’s part of his generation.
The price: Joey quoted a fabulous price to every man ahead of me. Then, for work that would have cost me over $100 other places, Joey said, “$40.”
Again, I’m a Pastor. And, I read in a good Ole Book somewhere that a “laborer is worthy of his hire”. I was prepared to spend more but wasn’t sure how much. But, I planned to tip him already.
“Sir, you keep the change”, I said as I handed him a $100 bill. In typical, old-school fashion, he tried to rebut my tip and give me correct change. I wouldn’t hear if it. “I appreciate the entertainment”, I told him.
Joey had left an impression on me. I would like to think I left an impression on him.
Is he good? The best! Is he cheap? The cheapest! Is he entertaining? Bring your popcorn! It’s an experience! Joey, you’re awesome! Your reputation is...
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