Mechanic makes mark on Milton

Pennsylvania native Christopher White's decades-long career in cars started from necessity.

“When I was in high school, my car broke. It needed a new transmission, and I couldn't afford to fix it,” White said. “So, it was either fix it myself or walk. And that's where it all started.”

But the decision to move his car repair and maintenance shop, OE Performance Service & Repair, to southern Delaware wasn't sparked by the same sense of urgency.

For the past eight years, White ran a repair shop in Harrisburg, Pa., under a similar name, serving about 700 regular customers and generating nearly $500,000 in annual revenue, he said. His decision to relocate to Milton has required a major investment, but he's hoping locals take notice of his commitment to his new community.

“There's nothing we can't do,” said White, who also is an active member of the Southern Delaware Jeep Club.

OE Performance specializes in Jeep, Volkswagen and Audi models, but White said repair and maintenance – from oil changes and alignments to welding and air conditioning work – can be done on any make or model at his Milton Business Park shop, directly behind Food Lion on Route 5. He also offers Over the Wave surf racks and installation, and Jeep merchandise and will soon stock Jeep-inspired art by local artist Amy Conroy.

White studied mechanical engineering at Penn State and received an associate's degree in automotive from Pennsylvania College of Technology in 1992. Since then, he has worked for numerous dealerships and car shops along the East Coast.

Although he opened shop in Milton in mid-August, White is no stranger to Delaware. Growing up in Pennsylvania, he frequently visited Ocean City, Md., passing through the Delaware beaches and later vacationing and buying property in southern Delaware. About three years ago, he purchased a fixer-upper in Long Neck, where he now lives full time with his girlfriend, Jennifer Jones.

White hopes to grow his customer base enough to employ more locals. For now, he has one employee: Cape Henlopen High School graduate Wyatt Levan.

“I love working on cars, so for me, this is something awesome,” the 20-year-old said. “Chris is a very honest guy and he won't beat around the bush. We'll always tell people what they need to know.”

Delaware's business-friendly atmosphere and low taxes initially attracted White to bring his business to the Cape Region, but he said it was the people of Milton and surrounding communities that encouraged him to settle in for the long run.

“It's just way more laid back,” he said. “The people are nicer. The people, the people, the people – that's what makes it down here. Especially the locals.”