Dunkirk couple restores old '76'

DUNKIRK — Eric and Tracy Bowler are trying to recreate some memories of their childhood.
The Dunkirk couple, who own E & T Tree and Landscape, purchased the former Adams Auto Repair building located at 206 N. Main St. in order to transform the look of the building into a vintage Union 76 service station.
The structure was built in 1961 and served as a Pure gas station. It was later converted into a Union 76 station.
Eric said he and his wife used to run down to “the 76” to buy a cold drink in glass bottles when they were kids.
“It was the hot spot to get a cold pop,” Tracy said.
That memory prompted the couple to buy the building in January with hopes of restoring that classic Union 76 look that they had loved growing up.
The original plan when the building was bought was to continue letting occupant Danny Adams run his auto repair shop while they changed the look and feel of the building. But shortly after buying the property Adams passed away.
Eric said the reason he bought the building in the first place was because when he saw it for sale he was afraid someone else would purchase it and tear it down.
After Adams’ death, Eric decided to continue with the building renovation plans and use the facility as an office for his landscaping company as well as continuing to use it as an auto repair shop named “Bowler’s Collision and Repair.”
He is in the process of finding a mechanic to hire for the shop.
Eric has always found joy in vintage looks and antique items. So when he hired Dunkirk residents Al Pettus to do the renovations and Afton Hines to handle the paint work he expected them to bring the classic Union 76 feel to life. So far he has been satisfied with the work done. But Eric wanted to put his own touches on the building by hanging some of the vintage signs he owns.
Eric has been collecting old signs and memorabilia for nearly five years, filling his entire barn full. Through local connections and online research he was able to gather a variety of unique signs from many different time periods.
Eric and Tracy plan to open the business this summer, but restorations won’t be finished until next year. “I just want to finish it to how it was in the 1970’s,” Eric said.
The couple will continue to tweak the look of the building until they are satisfied with how it compares to what they remember growing up.