2026 November InMaricopa Magazine

BUSINESS

november holiday helpers

Service that sticks One veteran’s mission to do right by people and their cars W HEN A VIETNAM VETERAN brought his van to AAMCO of Maricopa, he’d already spent considerable money at other repair shops without getting the results he needed.

GIFT CARD BOGO bUy $100 giFT card

A summary of the Sept. 11 – Oct. 10 food inspections by Pinal County Environmental Health Services.

geT $20 arroyo grille voUcher bUy $50 giFT card geT $10 arroyo grille voUcher

to repair work. He purchased the Maricopa AAMCO location nearly five years ago, drawn to the city’s growth and the opportunity to return to a repair shop.

pay structures can encourage workers to rush repairs or recommend services customers don’t need. He recalled working at a General Motors dealership, where a service writer gave him a work order for a power steering flush on a vehicle equipped with electronic power steering — a system that didn’t require that service. When Murell questioned the work order, he said the service writer explained that he needed the money to cover payments. “It’s not the customer’s problem,” Murell recalled telling him. The experience reinforced his decision to structure his own shop differently, keeping the focus on accurate diagnoses and necessary repairs. Supporting fellow veterans Murell offers discounts to veterans and first responders who bring their vehicles to the shop. He also attends car shows organized by veteran groups and said he tries to help local veterans’ and service organizations when he can. He doesn’t describe his Coast Guard service in terms of personal glory. Instead, Murell sees it as a responsibility he chose to take on, following a family tradition that included his father and other relatives who served. “Serving my country was just something I felt was part of my duty as a healthy citizen,” he said. For Murell, that duty is as straightforward as listening to the person who needs help, finding the problem and doing what you can to make things right.

Owner Tony Murell could see the man was in a difficult position. The customer had little family left to help him, and Murell thought of his own father, who also served in Vietnam. “I just felt like I needed to get things right for him,” he recalled. Murell worked to correct the problems with the van so the customer could have a dependable vehicle, particularly during Arizona’s summer heat. “You don’t want somebody driving around in a car that’s going to leave them on the side of the road,” he said. For Murell, helping the customer reflected a sense of responsibility that began during his four years in the U.S. Coast Guard and continues today in how he runs his automotive repair business. “When a customer comes to our shop and they have a problem they can’t solve and they’re relying on us to solve their problem, we need to solve it in the best way that we can for the customer,” Murell said. From military discipline to personal service

Purchase one $100 gift card and receive one $20 Arroyo Grille voucher. Purchase one $50 gift card and receive one $10 Arroyo Grille voucher. Must mention coupon when purchasing gift cards. Not valid with any other specials, offers, discounts or Harrah’s Rewards. Limit one voucher per purchase. Must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol. Non-transferable. Offer expires 11/30/26.

Farmer’s Restaurant

520.426.6832 arroyogrille.com 48456 west highway 238 in maricopa

Restaurant inspections

EXCELLENT

• Fry’s Marketplace – Sushi • Farmer’s Restaurant

NEW RESIDENT & VISITOR GUIDE 2027

EXCELLENT: All priority standards are observed as compliant. SATISFACTORY: One or more priority standards are out of compliance. All priority standards are corrected at the time of inspection. NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: One or more priority standards is out of compliance. At least one violation is not corrected at the time of inspection. When violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the department during a follow-up inspection, a satisfactory rating will be given. UNACCEPTABLE: One or more violations observed are an “imminent health hazard.” Hazards include the misuse of poisonous or toxic materials, onset of an apparent foodborne illness outbreak and unsanitary conditions that may endanger public health. Hazards can stem from fires, floods, electrical or water problems, and sewage backup. When violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the department during a follow- up inspection, a satisfactory rating will be given. What do the ratings mean?

Tony Murell

His military experience also shaped his management style. Murell values the discipline, routines and maintenance records he learned in the service, but he said running a civilian business requires a different approach. “In terms of running a business, employees and customers are real people and they have choices,” he said. He tries to treat each person as an individual, rather than expecting everyone to respond to the same approach. “I just treat everybody like a person and the way I want to be treated,” Murell said. “If you do right by people and be honest with them, they appreciate that.” Putting the customer first One way Murell applies that philosophy is by not paying technicians on a flat-rate basis or employees on commission. He believes those

Murell worked in the Coast Guard’s mechanical and engineering departments, handling hydraulics, machinery and small boats. But his interest in automobiles started years earlier, when fixing his own cars was often a necessity. “My family wasn’t well to do,” he said. “We were always taught to recycle and repurpose things.” That resourcefulness followed him into military service. Murell said he recovered discarded tools during equipment cleanouts, building his personal toolbox with tools that otherwise would have been thrown away. After leaving the Coast Guard, he continued working in the automotive industry, spending 20 years in automotive recycling before returning

520-251-9719 AAMCOMaricopa.com 20145 N. John Wayne Parkway

The New Resident & Visitor Guide is hand-delivered to new residents and distributed through local utilities, realtors, home builders, city hall and more. Lock in your ad space by Dec. 5 to avoid missing a great opportunity to reach new residents and visitors in Maricopa. (520) 568-0040 | Advertising@InMaricopa.com Reserve ad space by Dec.5