photo by: Shelley Hanson

Ziebart owners Michael Drizake, left, and his father Mike Drizake, pose inside the automotive appearance and protection services shop on Monday.

Ziebart — a new shop that specializes in automotive appearance and protection services — is open near The Highlands shopping center.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new business was hosted by the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

The shop, located at 115 Wayfarer Drive, is owned and operated by Weirton residents Mike Drizake and his son, Michael Drizake. His daughter, Ashlynn Drizake, works there, too.

The technicians include Tristan Burnsworth, Eli Seevers, Austin Garner and Issiah Jackson.

Services offered at the Triadelphia location include auto detailing, window tinting, rust protection, undercoating, spray-on bed liners, paint correction, paint protection and windshield chip repair. It also offers remote starters and other truck accessories.

The shop has its own credit card, gift cards and discounts for military veterans.

The building is situated between Holiday Inn Express and the Sheetz gas station just off The Highlands’ Interstate 70 exit.

It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays; and closed Sundays.

Drizake said he decided to open the Triadelphia location because of the high traffic volume and demographics of the shoppers in the area.

“About 52,000 cars go past here every day on Interstate 70,” he said. “And 7,100 of them take the exit.”

The shop’s proximity to two car dealerships — Straub’s and Robinson’s — also played a role in the decision to open there.

Drizake said they are also starting to get some business from fleets of vehicles such as those with the oil and gas industry.

Before opening the shop, Drizake worked in the steel industry for 30 years. His son previously worked in sales.

Drizake said the Ziebart company was founded in 1959 by Kurt Ziebart in the Detroit area. It was then known as the Auto Rustproofing Co. Later in 1963, Ziebart and his partners sold the company to Roger Waindle who renamed the company the Ziebart Process Corporation.

Drizake noted there are other franchises in Morgantown and the Pittsburgh area.

Michael Drizake noted the shop’s biggest selling service, to date, has been rust protection.