Christian Brothers Automotive Combines Faith and Franchising

Mike Campbell and his wife opened a Christian Brothers Automotive location at 8127 Highland Pointe Drive in West Chester, Ohio, on Thursday. They selected the franchise to honor their faith, God and their late son Johnathan Joseph, or JJ, who died in a car accident four years ago.

“When we were going through the dark times in the months after the accident, there was a family that reached out to us and offered us their support,” Campbell said. “They had lost their son four years before we had. It made all the difference in the world. It provided an anchor for us knowing that we could survive.”

Campbell said he hopes he and his wife will be able to provide support to other grieving parents and various community members through the business.

“It makes all the difference in the world in our experience,” Campbell said.

A year after their son died in the accident, they considered opening the franchise. The Campbells flew to Houston for a Christian Brothers Automotive event and left knowing they should open a business.

“They were a group of people that we wanted to work with, the way that they supported the community,” Campbell said. “It didn’t matter that they were in the automotive industry.”

The Campbells, who own a home in Nicholasville on the outskirts of Lexington, considered opening the franchise in Lexington or Louisville. Campbell said he’s still learning about West Chester. But so far, it’s a good fit.

“After our first time here,” he said, “it became obvious that this was where we’re meant to be.”

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