ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Three weeks into his new life in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Jeremy Johnson is still discovering Asheville one trail, waterfall and customer at a time.
Johnson, 45, recently transferred to Asheville as an assistant store manager for O’Reilly Auto Parts on Haywood Road, continuing a career that has taken him across much of the country — from Arizona to South Florida — while allowing him and his wife to embrace a life built around travel and new communities.
Originally from south Georgia, Johnson said working with cars has been part of his life for as long as he can remember.
“I grew up mechanicking with my dad. So, I was already into the car business since I was old enough to walk,” Johnson said. “We came from a low-income background, so my parents worked full time, and nights and weekends we were out in the yard turning wrenches.”
What began as handing tools to his father eventually turned into working on race cars of his own.
Today, Johnson still sees auto work as a connection point between people.
At the Asheville store, his responsibilities range from overseeing daily operations and inventory to training employees and managing customer service. But the part of the job he values most happens at the counter.
“Every customer has a different story,” he said. “Most people don’t come into an auto parts store just to browse. They’re here because something’s wrong.”
Helping customers diagnose problems or find the right part brings a sense of satisfaction, he said, especially when someone leaves confident their vehicle will be back on the road.
Johnson’s move to Asheville came through his wife, Sebrina, a traveling laboratory scientist. The arrangement allows them to explore new regions together while Johnson transfers between company locations every few months.
The lifestyle suits them.
“We might wake up one weekend and decide to go to the Grand Canyon, or head down to the Keys,” Johnson said. “We love being able to see the country.”
Since arriving in Western North Carolina, hiking has quickly filled much of Johnson’s free time. He and his wife have already visited several area waterfalls, balancing his preference for mountain summits with her enjoyment of quieter scenic waterfall walks.
Looking ahead, Johnson doesn’t envision dramatic change. Instead, he hopes to continue doing the same work — helping customers, mentoring coworkers and traveling alongside his wife as new opportunities arise.
“I’m fortunate,” he said. “I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy the life we’ve built doing it.”
For now, that life includes learning the rhythms of a new city, meeting new customers and settling into another chapter — one repair, road trip and mountain trail at a time.
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