Company History

Company History

OUR HISTORY

Our family business has a long history with auto repair. All the way back in 1919, Otto Kusch, Mike and Mark’s grandfather, and his two brothers worked at a shop in Milwaukee fixing cars and shoeing horses. We started our own business in 1945 when Otto opened Kusch’s Garage on 58th and North Avenue in Milwaukee. Jack Kusch, our dad, bought the shop from Otto and continued to operate it into the early 90’s. Three generations worked in that building for over 45 years taking care of neighborhood cars. Now Mike and Mark, along with Mike’s son Jeff, work together in Hartland, continuing the same family tradition of car repair, now in its 4th generation.

Hartland Service opened in April of 1992. The original shop had 6 bays and a very small office and waiting room. Business grew and in 1997 we added on 6 more service bays, a lunch and meeting room for technicians, staff offices and a large waiting area for our customers. Just five years later, we expanded our services to offer our first car washing system,  the Vector Touch-less car wash.

We kept the momentum going thanks to our loyal patrons and expanded throughout the early 2000s to include hydraulic hose and tank testing, a complete detailing division, and we started to offer emissions testing. By the time 2014 hit, we knew we had to expand to keep providing the very best service to our customers!

2016 was an important year for us as we expanded our location to almost 20,000 square feet! We now have a specialty shop dedicated to classic cars, we offer two state-of-the-art car wash systems, and added the area’s only certified hybrid shop for electric car maintenance.

It seems all our hard work is paying off because this year we were nominated for Wisconsin Family Business of the Year and we won the Golden Hammer Award from the Hartland Chamber of Commerce. We could not have done any of this without our incredible customers, the hard work of our team, and support from our community! We are excited to keep growing with Lake Country!

Hartland Service History

1919
Sep 17

Hawley Service Years

Hawley Service Years

In 1919 Otto Kusch and his 2 brothers, Clem and John work at Hawley Service on 58th and Vliet in Milwaukee. Fixing cars and shoeing horses.

1925
Oct 01

Hawley Service Years

Hawley Service Years

Hawley Service company truck pictured outside of the shop.

1932
Oct 01

Hawley Service Years

Hawley Service Years

Picture taken in the mid-1920’s in front of the shop on Vliet Street

1945
Sep 17

Texaco Gas Station Years

Texaco Gas Station Years

During 1945 Otto Kusch bought a Texaco gas station in Milwaukee on 58th & North Ave. Kusch’s Garage started repairing neighborhood vehicles.

1974
Sep 17

Jack Kusch Takes Over

Jack Kusch Takes Over

By 1974 Jack Kusch took over for Otto. Jack is pictured here with his ’35 Ford during restoration at Kusch’s Garage. This car is still in the family today!

1975
Oct 01

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Mike, Debbie, and Otto Kusch pictured with Otto’s friend and shop helper, Ray, at a Christmas party.

1990
Oct 11

Continuing the Family Business

Continuing the Family Business

Jack Kusch continued to run the shop into the early 90’s. Jack is pictured here with Paul at Kusch’s Garage during an Early Ford V-8 seminar.

1992
Sep 17

The New Hartland Service

The New Hartland Service

In 1992 the new Hartland Service, Inc. opened in Hartland’s industrial park in Lake Country

1994
Oct 11

The New Hartland Service

The New Hartland Service

Mike Kusch pictured behind the counter in his front office and waiting room. This room is now used for shop tools.

1997
Sep 17

Doubling Shop Size

Doubling Shop Size

By 1997 improving business demanded Hartland Service build an addition to accommodate all customers – the shop virtually doubled in size.

Oct 11

Doubling Shop Size

Doubling Shop Size

New walls going up!

2002
Sep 17

Vector Car Wash

Vector Car Wash

In 2002 we installed a new Vector Touch-less car wash.

2004
Oct 11

Vector Car Wash

Vector Car Wash

Hartland Service maintains a touchless car wash to handle all client vehicles, large and small.

2006
Sep 17

Opened Hose Fabrication and Tank Testing Division

Opened Hose Fabrication and Tank Testing Division

During 2006 we added a hydraulic hose and tank testing division.

2008
Oct 11

Helping Clients Understand Auto Repair

Helping Clients Understand Auto Repair

To help inform clients, Hartland Service creates an educational display of automotive hoses.

2011
Sep 17

Complete Detailing Division

Complete Detailing Division

By 2011 we opened a complete detailing division for cars and trucks

2013
Sep 17

Emissions Testing Added

Emissions Testing Added

In 2013 Hartland Service began offering emissions testing

2014
Sep 17

Major Addition

Major Addition

By 2014 Hartland Service began planning another major addition to meet the needs of our growing list of customers

2015
Oct 11

Continuing Expansion

Continuing Expansion

Hartland Service continues to build out space to accommodate all client needs.

2016
Jan 17

Second Major Addition

Second Major Addition

In 2016 the second addition was completed and our operation expanded to nearly 20,000 sq. feet.

Feb 17

K4 Specialty Vehicles

K4 Specialty Vehicles

After the addition in 2016, Hartland Services added K4 Specialty Vehicles – an enhanced repair bay specially designed for hotrods, street rods, muscle cars, and classic cars

Mar 17

Free Vacuums

Free Vacuums

In 2016 we also added two state-of-the-art automatic car wash bays with free vacuums offered 24/7

Apr 17

Certified Hybrid Shop

Certified Hybrid Shop

The 2016 addition also included the area’s only certified hybrid shop for electric car maintenance

2018
Feb 17

Wisconsin Family Business of the Year

In 2018 Hartland Service was nominated for Wisconsin Family Business of the Year

Apr 17

Golden Hammer Award

Golden Hammer Award

In 2018 we also won the coveted Golden Hammer Award by the Hartland Chamber of Commerce

Sep 23

Hosted First Annual Safety Shake Down

Hosted First Annual Safety Shake Down

Hartland service hosted the first annual Safety Shake Down on September 23rd, 2018.  The Safety Shake Down included a car show, a safety inspection for vehicles, and the National Street Rod Association’s “appreciation day”.