The Garage in June 1997 with the company van and the unbranded hoarding showing the incorrect telephone number from the days of MVB Motors
The Coronation Street Garage was the name of the second such business to operate in the premises of 16 Coronation Street. The first, MVB Motors, had gone into receivership in July 1996, and its co-owner, Josie Clarke, desperate not to lose all of her share of the investment she had made just three months before along with partner Don Brennan, sold it as a cut-price bargain to Kevin Webster and Tony Horrocks who went into partnership, settling the deal in the August. They originally intended to name the business "Coronation Street Motors", but it underwent a change before any legal paperwork had been completed.
The initial running of the business did not go smoothly as Tony quickly lost all interest in the enterprise and sold his share to his mother, Natalie. Things became further complicated when she made it clear to Kevin that she was attracted to him, and he brought a temporary end to his marriage to Sally by giving in to temptation with her. When the Websters attempted a reconciliation at the end of 1997, Kevin offered to buy Natalie out, but she refused his offer. An attempt by Jim McDonald to buy the garage from both partners in 2000 came to nothing after he imprisoned for the manslaughter of Jez Quigley. Natalie moved out of the area at the end of the same year and at some point sold her own 50% share to Kevin.
In the summer of 2004, Sally began to take an interest in the garage’s books, wanting to raise the funds to send their daughter Rosie to the posh Oakhill School. She declared that the business was overstaffed and underperforming and made the menfolk take on extra work, including a 24-hour call-out service. Wanting to present a more modern and professional business face to the world, she rebranded the business and in June the frontage declared to the world that it was now operating under the name of Websters Auto Centre.
Owner[]
- Kevin Webster 50% from 1996, sole ownership at some point after 2000
- Tony Horrocks 50% from 1996-1997
- Natalie Horrocks 50% from 1997 to some point after 2000
Staff[]
- Chris Collins 1996-1998
- Jim McDonald 1998–2000
- Nick Tilsley 1998 (summer job)
- Tyrone Dobbs 1998-2004 (apprentice from May 1999)
- Dennis Stringer 2000-2002 (running a motorbike repair franchise in the premises)
- Sam Kingston 2000-2002
- Aidan Critchley 2002 (work experience)
- Tommy Harris 2002-2004