{"id":41252,"date":"2026-01-20T15:38:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/?p=41252"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:38:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:38:05","slug":"from-ashes-to-excellence-haneys-automotive-rebuilds-after-devastating-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2026\/01\/from-ashes-to-excellence-haneys-automotive-rebuilds-after-devastating-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"From Ashes To Excellence: Haney\u2019s Automotive Rebuilds After Devastating Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
The new Haney\u2019s Automotive facility at 32 Route 146 in Halfmoon opened in November after owner Jay Haney rebuilt following a 2023 fire that destroyed the family\u2019s longtime Mechanicville shop.
Courtesy Carol Ann Conover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Carol Ann Conover<\/p>\n

When lightning struck a power line on July 9, 2023, Jay Haney watched helplessly as flames consumed the building that had housed his family\u2019s automotive business since 1960. But even as the fire raged, Haney was already planning his next move.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe building\u2019s on fire and I\u2019m like, what am I gonna do? I gotta do something.Where am I gonna work?,\u201d Haney recalled. Within 24 hours, he was moving cars and calling friends to line up temporary workspace. \u201cWe had no tools like everything was gone, but we were still cranking away.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second-generation owner of Haney\u2019s Automotive faced more than just the loss of a building\u2014he was navigating the end of a 65-year presence in Mechanicville. Founded by his father Jack in 1960, the shop had built its reputation on trust and generational relationships.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore we moved, 90% of my customers started out with their grandparents,\u201d Haney said. \u201cIt was generational.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack Haney, a Navy veteran and jet airplane mechanic who had opportunities with major airlines, chose instead to build his own business in our small upstate New York community. He passed away in 2005, but his legacy of service continues through his youngest son.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>After the fire, the path forward proved treacherous. Haney spent considerable money on plans and engineers to rebuild in Mechanicville, only to face zoning obstacles that made reconstruction impossible at the original location. The family spent months driving around town searching for alternatives, encountering roadblock after roadblock.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody\u2019s like, oh, it\u2019s just a building. But I grew up in that building,\u201d Haney said. \u201cI can\u2019t even be in this thing. It\u2019s like literally losing a family member.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the ordeal, the community rallied. Customers and neighbors brought meals for weeks. People offered to take days off work to help move equipment. Others provided leads on potential locations and temporary workspace.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the total community thing coming together,\u201d Haney said.<\/p>\n

Eventually, Haney found a two-acre property in Half Moon, just a mile from the original location. He rented a former body shop two doors down from his burned building and operated there for 2\u00bd years while planning the new facility, which opened Nov. 9, 2025.<\/p>\n

The new 32 Route 146 location in Half Moon features state-of-the-art equipment, air conditioning for the shop floor, radiant floor heating, and expanded capacity. But Haney\u2019s focus remains on people\u2014both his team and his customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t just build a building with the best stuff for my guys,\u201d Haney explained. \u201cI worked in the shop, so I know what it feels like not to have the best stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

The business now employs four people, including a 19-year-old service advisor whom Haney has been mentoring. His wife Stephanie, a teacher in the Shenendehowa school district, noted her husband\u2019s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always wants people to know how it works,\u201d Stephanie said. \u201cI remember years ago, we had a young tech and Jay said to him, \u2018If your mom was getting in this car when you pulled it out, what would you do? That\u2019s how I want you to treat every single car.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Haney has implemented digital vehicle inspections, providing customers with photographic documentation of their car\u2019s condition\u2014a practice that builds transparency and helps people plan for future maintenance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like if I just say you need new brakes. If I can show you a picture of what we\u2019re seeing versus me just saying it, it builds a lot of transparency,\u201d Haney said.<\/p>\n

The business now sees 10 to 15 new customers weekly while maintaining its loyal base. Haney envisions expanding by four more bays within five years, though he admits his old-school approach makes it difficult to turn anyone away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m only 47, but I\u2019m kind of old school and my dad was like, you never say no,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Those who knew Jack Haney believe he would be proud. \u201cYour dad would be so proud,\u201d multiple community members have told Jay. \u201cThere\u2019s something that he would never think could be done.\u201d<\/p>\n

For information, visit Haney\u2019s Automotive at 32 NY Route 146, Mechanicville or visit https:\/\/www.haneysautomotive.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Carol Ann Conover When lightning struck a power line on July 9, 2023, Jay Haney watched helplessly as flames consumed the building that had housed his family\u2019s automotive business since 1960. But even as the fire raged, Haney was already planning his next move. \u201cThe building\u2019s on fire and I\u2019m like, what am I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":41253,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\nFrom Ashes To Excellence: Haney\u2019s Automotive Rebuilds After Devastating Fire - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2026\/01\/from-ashes-to-excellence-haneys-automotive-rebuilds-after-devastating-fire\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From Ashes To Excellence: Haney\u2019s Automotive Rebuilds After Devastating Fire - Saratoga Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Carol Ann Conover When lightning struck a power line on July 9, 2023, Jay Haney watched helplessly as flames consumed the building that had housed his family\u2019s automotive business since 1960. 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