The owner of a small auto shop in Pullman prioritizes honesty.

College Cabs Owner Rob Borden also owns Auto Repair at The Hive LLC, a company he said he started in October 2017 when College Cabs needed maintenance.

“We wanted an affordable place for our cabs to get maintenance done on the rigs,” Borden said.

This quickly turned into more than just affordable care for his second business as the public heard more about the repair shop through word of mouth.

“The industry itself has a bad name,” Borden said. “So, we focused on being affordable and honest.”

Borden said they hope to keep prices transparent by breaking down specific costs and explaining why they need to change parts.

This method of honesty toward clients is rewarding for Borden and his employees, he said.

“This model has been a seeming success for us as we keep a fairly full schedule,” Borden said.

The shop offers oil changes for $29.99, which Borden said is cheaper than any quick lube shop in town.

“You know it’s done right because you have actual mechanics doing the work and recommending necessary services,” he said.

For people who don’t want to wait for their car to be fixed or want to be able to work on their own car, The Hive provides services for that as well. They rent out bays so customers can work on their own cars in the space. This also keeps things transparent.

“It’s a nice feature for someone who wants to do their own work but doesn’t have a vehicle lift,” Borden said.

The Hive will find a new location next school year due to a zoning regulation oversight from the 1960s. Borden said they are evaluating several properties and haven’t signed a lease yet.

“But fear not, we’re just relocating,” Borden said.

Shop hand Magen Myers said she has always loved cars.

“I even draw cars in my spare time,” Myers said. “It is always cool to help out, especially since I enjoy working with cars.”

The shop also has a “shop cat” named Tinker. Myers said Tinker likes to hang out behind the desk and is a friendly face for the customers.

Customers can check out The Hive at 115 SW Center St.