A used car sales and service center in Lehighton plans to make sure its customers are the ones in the driver's seat.

Customer1Auto held its grand opening Thursday at 700 North First St., the site of the former Mahoning Ambulance building.Among those who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Carbon County Commissioners William O'Gurek, Thomas J. Gerhard, and Chairman Wayne Nothstein, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce secretary Heather McClure, family members, and employees.Owner Scott Miller, who has also operated the Customer1Auto business in Walnutport for the past two years, said the entity is a buy here, pay here dealership that wanted to expand its operation north.He said the Lehighton business has nine employees, and is a full mechanical, PA state inspection, emissions, sales lot that offers warrantied used vehicles with money down and in-house financing."We're extremely competitive," Miller said. "We're ultracompetitive as a buy here, pay here dealer."General Manager Jeffrey Minnich Sr. thanked all the local officials, Mahoning Township, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, business partners and vendors, Kettle Hill Contracting, Jim Thorpe, and Attorney Kevin Pavlack, who leased the adjoining property, for their support."We especially want to thank our loyal and dedicated customers who have supported us in Walnutport," Minnich said. "As we expand to Lehighton, they can expect the same great service, and with their support, we may look into possible future expansion."Minnich praised the employees for their years of automotive experience."We can do everything from used tires to major repairs, all at affordable rates," he said. "If we can't fix it, it can't be fixed."Minnich urged the community to watch for the business at the Carbon County Home, Garden and Business Expo, to be held April 28-29 at the Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall.The service department is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the sales department 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10-4 on Saturday.For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit

www.customer1auto.com, or (610) 377-9777 (service), or (610) 377-1777 (sales).