New London — After more than 41 years in business, the towing company and auto repair shop Padgett & Sons has taken its trucks off the road and is closing shop.

The company has been one of four on the New London Police Department's towing rotation, and it has served New London, Waterford, Groton, Mystic and Stonington as a AAA contractor, along with towing as far as New York and Boston.

"It's tougher and tougher to get good employees," said owner Jimmie Padgett Jr., echoing a sentiment other New London towing company owners shared. "I love the customers, but it's just getting tougher and tougher. The business climate just wasn't what it was. I'm tired myself. I've had enough."

Padgett told The Day that if he knew why it was getting harder to find employees, "I wouldn't be talking to you right now. I would've solved the problem."

While Padgett marked this as "one of the main contributors to our decision," he also noted that a lot had happened in the past year. His father, who founded Padgett & Sons in 1977 and retired in 1992, died this past March at 87. Longtime Padgett & Sons employee Donald "Chappie" Chapman died less than three months prior.

"It's definitely bittersweet for me and the family, but it was the right move," Padgett said. "I'm 100 percent sure it was the right time. There's a lot of strong companies out there that can take up the slack."

Less than two years ago, Padgett told The Day he was feeling optimistic and recently acquired new trucks. And so the closure struck some onlookers as sudden, but Padgett said it's something he had been considering for a while.

He said Wednesday the company ceased towing operations on June 24 and is now winding down the repair shop. Padgett, 59, said he's not sure what he wants to do next, but he doesn't envision himself retired.

Starting Aug. 1, he said, the building will be rented to "a couple of younger guys" that Padgett believes will also be doing repair and towing. Of the 11 trucks in Padgett & Sons' possession, some owned and some leased, Padgett said he has most of them lined up to be sold.

Closure impacts service for New London police and AAA

New London Police Capt. Brian Wright said Padgett & Sons removed itself from the police towing list last week, leaving Columbus Square Auto, Shea's Auto Body and Bernie's Service Station in the rotation.

Anyone who needs towing after an accident can request a company in the region, but if they're not sure, the police department will go to the next one on the list, Wright explained. He said Padgett & Sons has been utilized for at least as long as he's been with the police department, which is 25 years.

"Any time there's a lower number, it may strain things a little bit, and particularly with the onset of holiday season, Fourth of July and Sailfest," Wright said. But "like anything else, this too shall pass and we'll proceed forward and we'll find a way."

Before Bernie's Service Station owner Jeff Suntup found out Padgett & Sons was closing, he noticed his own tows going from two to four to six a day. A one-man show with two trucks, "I don't want to work that hard," said Suntup, 65.

He said of his role in the larger towing scene in New London, "This is another piece of the pie. All I want is a couple of crumbs. I don't want the crust. Forget the filling; I don't want the filling."

Suntup said the closure of Padgett & Sons might result in a delay of just five or 10 minutes for police, as it's a priority for him and the other tow companies.

"The police department comes first. They always do. The one that's probably going to wait is the guy that needs a jumpstart," Suntup said.

Columbus Square Auto owner John Collins said police are still going to have the coverage, and his guys have been working more hours since Padgett & Sons ceased towing. But like Padgett said, and as Collins has heard from people across the country, it's difficult to find employees.

Outside of police assistance, Suntup added that the void is among people who are stuck in their driveway or need a tire changed. He said Padgett & Sons "was the kingpin" in the region for motor club work and the leader for parking lot enforcement.

Both Bernie's Service Station and Columbus Square Auto used to contract with AAA in the 1980s but don't anymore. Both Suntup and Collins said AAA doesn't pay well.

Collins said that AAA didn't pay well back in the '80s, but at least he was usually towing cars back to his shop and therefore got repair business, whereas nowadays cars are usually towed to the dealer. Asked if he would consider doing AAA again, since Padgett & Sons closed, Collins said, "No way."

He has heard stories of people waiting six or eight hours for AAA service in the past week. Collins has seen trucks from Desmond's Auto in New London, but they're based in Colchester.

Closer companies that offer towing for AAA include Guy's Oil Service in Niantic, Northeast Towing & Transport in Norwich, and Evans Mobil in Pawcatuck.

Tom Shea, owner of Shea's Auto Body, said that from what he's seen for trucks, AAA is trying to accommodate people.

"Honestly, I'm in shock, being that I've been in this business my whole life, and those guys have been around forever," he said, adding that they're "just really, really good people."

He does expect to see an increase in business from Padgett & Sons closing but said he'd rather see the company stay, and that he encourages competition.

"It's difficult to keep people working and the equipment on the road," Shea said, "and all small business owners are going to complain at some point, and you're used to hearing from people how hard it is to do business in Connecticut."

e.moser@theday.com