How do you keep a family business going for 65 years?
Chuck Graff, the owner of Murphy’s Service Center in St. Anthony Village has a simple answer.
“I guess it’s our reputation. We work hard, we’re honest, we’re fair,” Graff said.
His wife, Roxie, who’s the business manager of the service center, chimed in, “We run an honest business, and we’ve got a repeat clientele. Generations of customers keep coming back.”
Chuck added, “It’s easier to treat a customer right, and have them come back, than to go out and look for new customers. If you treat people fair, they’ll come back to you.”
Murphy’s Service Center dates back to 1958. A businessman named Jerry Murphy, who was Chuck’s father’s brother-in-law had started the business, but then died. “My dad [Dick] took over and bought his sister out. So there’s no Murphys involved in Murphy’s Service Center.”
The business operated at County C and Snelling as a two-bay service shop and gas station for many years.
“One day in 1972, I was at football practice at Autumn Grove,” Graff said. “We looked up and we could see this billowing smoke fill the sky coming from down the road. We all wondered, wow, what’s causing that?”
It was Murphy’s on fire. Probably started by static electricity at a car gas tank, the fire raged through the service bay, with the dozens of tires lining the walls causing the huge quantities of black smoke. “Luckily, my uncle had the presence of mind to shut the office door and the company’s records were preserved.”
One of Chuck’s memories was that the shop was full of Brach’s candy for sale during the fire, but the bags were all smoke damaged. “We ate Brach’s candy for two years.”
Murphy’s actually still stayed in business for another year at the same location, working out of the burned-out shell, but Dick Graff eventually purchased a new building on Hwy. 88 (County C and 29th Ave. NE). “When we got here, there was nothing around,” Chuck said. “Nothing.”
At various times, it was a Conoco station, a DX station, an E-Qual station and finally a Marathon station over the years. Besides gas and diesel, the company’s main business has been vehicle repair, tire sales and propane. They also have an emergency wrecker.
Dick Graff retired in 2012 and Chuck has been running the business since then. “We’ve been blessed with great employees, David and Dick, Tim, Ray, Mary and many others. Today we have five mechanics, one office person, Sammy, and Roxie as office manager.”
Dick still owns the property and Chuck owns the business. “I like to see him get his check every month and enjoy his retirement.”
The car repair business has changed greatly in 65 years. “It used to be a lot more mechanical. Just tear it apart and put it back together. Now it’s all diagnostics, training, expensive equipment, constant updates.” The shop does all domestic cars and Asian vehicles.
There are two American flags on the building. “We’re kind of patriotic.”
Roxie has an eye on retiring, but Chuck says he’s good for another 10 years or so. “I enjoy it. We try to create a fun, team atmosphere.”
So don’t expect Murphy’s to go away anytime soon.
“I take a ton of pride in this place. If anything goes wrong, people know I’m the one to come and see. We’ll make it right.”
Chuck laughs at the duties everybody shares. “After 43 years, I’m still the custodian.”
Dick Graff and his crew, left. Gas prices were a lot lower when Murphy’s Oil dispensed Conoco gasoline. The station today on the corner of Hwy. 88 and 29th Ave. NE. Roxie and Chuck Graff keep the family business going. (Photos by Al Zdon)
