In 1929, a windshield was simply a flat piece of glass primarily designed to keep bugs out of your teeth. Windshields have gotten a lot more sophisticated since then and so has the business that was begun by Louis Adelstein. The Great Depression brought the economy to a flying stop and recycling became a necessity, although that word had yet to be invented.
Louis Auto Parts was originally a wrecking business, salvaging parts from worn out and damaged cars. Much of that business involved salvaging glass. Mel Adelstein, Louis’ son, remembers working in the shop from seventh grade.
“By 1941, there was a lot of traffic on State Street,” he said. “That June, we rented a 50 by 100 foot space and have been there ever since. There were lots of logging trucks and that meant lots of business. I was in the service from 1943 through 1945, then went to Western from 1946 until 1947, but I always worked in the shop after class, pulling glass from wrecked cars. I took over the shop when Dad passed away in 1954.”
Gradually, the shop began specializing more and more in auto glass.
“We added a radiator business in 1954, but dropped that by 1956,” Mel said. “Since that time, the business has focused on auto glass.”
The transition from auto parts to auto glass was complete by 1959.
“Bellingham’s population was beginning to grow by that time and we started doing better,” Mel said. “Before 1949, we could just cut tempered glass for a windshield. Then, curved windshields started coming in. Curved door glass first came in about 1965. We did 15-20 windshields a week back in the 60s, now we do 15-20 a day.”
Mel started pulling back from the business in the 1980s and began turning it over to his son, Rick.
“It’s very rewarding to have my sons take over the business,” he said. “It feels great to drive up State Street and see the legacy.”
Rick, the third Adelstein to head the business, went to Western for a while and eventually completed a two year degree from Skagit Valley Community College.
“I wasn’t interested in the business at first,” Rick said. “My aunt and uncle owned Warshal’s Sporting Goods in Seattle and that’s what first attracted me. I started work when I was thirteen at Northwest Liquidators. They sold Army surplus, shoes, sporting goods. I worked for them until I was 16. Value Mart came to Bellingham in 1967 and my uncle had the franchise for their sporting goods department. He got me a job in the shoe department.”
He quit Value Mart to move to Mt. Vernon, where he finished his degree in business management. Rick came back to Western and, reluctantly, went to work for his father part-time.
“I never wanted to work here,” he said. “But Whatcom County was expanding rapidly in the early 1970s and it was an exciting time to be here. Up until that time, we barely made enough to keep us going”
The staff consisted of Mel, Rick and one employee. Rick admits it was fun working with his father, but he had some ideas of his own.
“I started soliciting car dealers to see how much business I could scare up,” he said. “Little by little, business increased. Meanwhile, Dad was teaching me the business. I wanted to get into residential glass and we started doing some of that in the 1970s.”
Mel had open heart surgery in 1983 and started hiring some extra help.
“That was the year we hired our first bookkeeper, Lisa Stephan, and she’s still here,” Rick said.
The Vancouver World’s Fair put Bellingham on the map.
“There were thousands of people going through here every day, heading for Expo ’86,” Rick said. “Suddenly, Bellingham was discovered. I never did get into sporting goods, but I have no regrets. Whether you’re selling sporting goods or auto glass, it’s all the same. I like to go out and talk to people, solicit business.”
What with selling, installing and delivery, Rick found himself working 70 hours a week.
“I made it a game, so it became fun and challenging,” he said. “The owner of Northwest Liquidators was very successful and I picked up a lot from him, like how to sell, check inventory, run cash registers, give change. He told me I am a natural salesperson, that I could sell almost anything.”
Once Expo ’86 gave local businesses a booster shot, Adelstein started thinking about expansion.
“We thought we could duplicate our success in Lynden, so we opened there in 1988,” he said. “We leased a building on the Guide for ten years, then purchased our current facility in 1998. That was very successful and we had gone as far north as we could go.”
Louis Auto Glass had enough employees by this time that Adelstein had time to consider his next move.”I decided to test the waters in Mt. Vernon, so in 1991 we did some advertising and soliciting in that market,” he said. “The response was positive, so we did mobile work out of the Bellingham store until we could find a location.”
The company rented a space on Stuart Road in 1993 and purchased its present facility on East College Way in 1997.
“That move made us very successful,” Adelstein said. “Mount Vernon is booming.”
There are now 11 employees in the Mt. Vernon shop, three in Lynden and 20 in Bellingham, including both auto and residential glass divisions.
“Good employees are difficult to find, especially ones that are qualified,” Adelstein said. “We have a technical advisor who conducts in house training programs. It takes six months to a year to be completely trained. Very seldom do we go outside the area to hire people. We look for people who have a mechanical background and are good with their hands.”
Safety is paramount.
“It’s easy to get hurt working with glass,” Adelstein said. “We usually work in two person teams. The buddy system insures that help is always available when necessary. This work is hard on the body, so we make it as easy as we can.”
There is a reason why Louis Auto Glass employees give 110 percent.
“We pay much higher than union scale,” Adelstein said. “There are good benefits and bonuses. We treat all employees equally and some have been with us for 25 years. If you treat people fairly, they have no reason to leave.”
The business still leans toward auto glass.
“I would say that about 75 percent of our business is auto and 25 percent residential,” Adelstein said.
The oil embargo of the mid 1970s had a big effect on auto glass.
“Manufacturers suddenly wanted to make cars lighter, so they reduced the thickness of both windshield and side glass,” Adelstein said. “More aerodynamic design meant that the shape of auto glass also changed to offer less wind resistance and noise. Unibody construction became almost universal and glass plays a big role in assuring structural integrity. That means it’s vital for a windshield to be installed properly. If not, it compromises the structure of the car, as well as risking leaks, rattles and squeaks.”
That motivates Louis Auto Glass to take whatever time is necessary and use quality products.
“To do that, our techs have to be certified for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) products,” Adelstein said. “It’s not a simple task. Since 1995, the windshield has also been a factor in airbag deployment. It actually shapes how the airbag deploys. Now, colored glass has become popular in green, blue, bronze and grey. Some are coated with solar materials to help deflect heat.”
Yet more gadgetry is being added to windshields.
“Some manufacturers now have a rain sensor embedded in the glass which controls windshield wipers automatically,” Adelstein said. “Rear windows have had embedded heating elements for some years to aid in defrosting and that’s being used in windshields, as well. The rear window defroster is in 90 percent of all vehicles now. Rear view mirrors are now attached directly to the windshield. All of this has made windshields more expensive.”
Since 2001, cars have had a feature that prevents power windows from amputating various extremities.
“Technology is always changing, making things safer,” Adelstein said.
There are distinct advantages to being locally owned for 75 years.
“There is still a lot of customer loyalty in a small city, so we get lots of repeat business,” Adelstein said. “We still have customers coming in from Grandpa’s day. If you do a good job and take care of customers, you earn that repeat business.”
Like most such businesses, Louis Auto Glass is deeply involved with the community.
“We support United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, sponsor golf and bowling tournaments,” Adelstein said. “We donate materials to schools and support scholarship programs. That’s how we help pay the community back for the success of our business. When charities need money, they know it’s easier to go to local companies. We don’t turn anyone down and we donate with a smile."
Rick saw a change coming back in the 1960s, with national companies beginning to move in.
“I had to come up with an idea,” he said. “I wanted to work with customers rather than compete with a chain. What can I offer to attract customers? Safety and a good job, plus gifts to thank you for your business. Regulations changed, so we couldn’t help with the deductible anymore. Instead, we send you to dinner or a movie. We promote those gifts, but the bottom line remains giving good service to customers.”
That means having enough inventory on hand to assure one day service.
“I’ll drive to Seattle to get parts to satisfy a customer, or work until midnight, if necessary,” Adelstein said. “We’re known for same day service. The thank you gift is just the icing on the cake. Doing the job right is our first concern.”
The giveaways have helped Adelstein build connections with other companies in the community.
“If I deal with local companies, their business prospers and mine does, too,” he said. “I help them grow through my promotions.”
Louis Auto Glass has won major awards for its self-promotion.
“Advertising works,” Adelstein said. “It’s hard to pick one medium over another, so I do a little bit of everything. It gets me out there and it has obviously paid off.”
He sees continued growth for his businesses in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, but is testing the market as far south as Marysville and Everett.
“The glass industry continues to change, with more emphasis on safety,” Adelstein said. “As long as there are cars, there will be glass and people will need our services. There’s lots of opportunity out there. Dollar for dollar, auto glass is one of the best values when it comes to safety.”
Rick’s daughter, Carrie Adelstein Myers is already deeply involved in the business, insuring a fourth generation of family ownership. Son Ari is still in high school, but works at the business part-time. Not that Rick’s ready to retire.
“I’m having fun,” he said. “I enjoy my work.”
He never forgets, however, where his roots are.
“Grandpa laid the foundation for our success,” Adelstein said. “He struggled for many years and it’s too bad he isn’t around to see what a success the business has become.”
No doubt he would also be tickled to know that his name is still part of a company celebrating its 75th anniversary.