By Mike Hazlip—
A new smog shop has opened up next to 7-Eleven on Auburn Boulevard near Van Maren Lane, taking up space in a former auto repair shop that was vacated earlier this year.
In a Sept. 12 update on social media, LART Smog N Tags at 6717 Auburn Blvd. announced the business is “up and running in full speed.” New paint can and exterior glass can now be seen on the building, with new windows replacing one of the building’s former bay doors.
The location was once a three-bay automotive repair shop, but owner Uddhav “Gary” Giri has transformed two of the bays into a large waiting room to give customers a more pleasant experience with a lounge-style waiting room, complete with designer furniture he says his wife chose.
Giri sold his Valero gas station at Auburn Boulevard and Antelope Road to open the smog shop, according to a previous report by The Sentinel.
The building had sat vacant for months after the previous occupant moved out of state. The site has seen ongoing homeless activity, according to nearby business owners.
Louise Seyfert, owner of Java Cherry at 6720 Van Maren Ln., told The Sentinel previously that she has seen multiple fires related to homeless activity at the site.
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