Each month, we are featuring a Highland Park business or organization.

Community Spotlight honorees may have deep roots in Highland Park or might be new to the neighborhood. Visit highlanddistrictcouncil.org/community-spotlight to see more spotlights and to have your business or organization featured.

This month, we are featuring VanGo Auto. VanGo Auto is Highland Park’s go-to German and import auto repair shop. Learn more about what they have to offer at vangoautomotive.com.

From Crystal & Jordan Frank-Shannon, Owners

Please describe your business/efforts in Highland Park.

Customers appreciate VanGo’s personalized approach and fair pricing they may not find at dealerships, the expertise of foreign car master technicians, and a convenient location that offers loaner cars.

What sets VanGo apart from typical car repair shops is its unique service model. While most shops compensate technicians based on the number of jobs completed, often leading to rushed work, VanGo adopts a different philosophy. We offer our technicians a competitive salary, relieving them of the pressure to work quickly while fostering a culture of teamwork and high-quality work. This approach is beneficial for staff’s wellbeing but also produces positive results for customers and their cars.

When did you first start your business/efforts in Highland Park?

2017

What was the inspiration for doing the work you do?

The owners of VanGo Auto were motivated to establish an auto repair shop that offers a welcoming and non-intimidating environment for women and everyone in the community. In the mornings, customers are typically welcomed by female staff at the front desk, and often women explain car diagnostics over the phone.

Additionally, VanGo aims to create a trustworthy and approachable expert shop for German and foreign vehicles located right in the neighborhood. The technicians at the shop are skilled car doctors who genuinely care about the owners of the vehicles they service and maintain. VanGo always says, “relationships first, car experts next”.

What’s your favorite thing about Highland Park?

Community is our favorite aspect of Highland Park! Such great humans! We can’t imagine being in any other neighborhood. The day flies by as we connect with our customers – getting to know not just their cars, but also learning more about them personally.