A new auto repair operation called Joe Auto Shop is planning to open this fall at 7818 Hammerly Boulevard in Houston's Spring Branch East neighborhood, on a lot that already houses two other automotive tenants. Construction on the roughly 2,275-square-foot standalone metal building is scheduled to start July 1, 2026, with completion slated for the end of October.
According to WhatNow Houston, the property at the corner of Wirt Road and Hammerly Boulevard currently functions as an automotive facility and is home to both Mechanic Master and Xpress Auto Motors. Joe Auto Shop is expected to open at the property, though it remains unclear whether the new business will operate independently or eventually replace the existing tenants. The outlet reports the construction project is estimated to cost $450,000.
A Permit Trail, but Few Public Details
State licensing records offer the clearest public trail for a business that otherwise has no known website or social media presence, per the same report. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on July 28, 2026, under project number TABS2026026323, according to Zabalist, which lists Building Support Services, Inc. as the project's design firm.
That filing isn't the first at this address. A previous TDLR filing, #TABS2023026843, was registered on August 25, 2023, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The filings document activity at the address in both 2023 and 2026.
WhatNow Houston reports that a Dr. Salima Cumber is listed on the Joe Auto Shop permit, but the outlet says she had not responded by the time of publication. Because the exact repair services Joe Auto Shop plans to offer are not publicly known, the permit filings remain the main window into the project's progress ahead of its expected fall opening.
Decades of Ownership at the Wirt and Hammerly Corner
The land beneath the project is associated with Hammerly Longpoint Joint Ventures LLC, which is identified in connection with property at the intersection of Wirt Road and Hammerly Boulevard.
The existing commercial building on the site dates back much further. Real estate records reviewed by Movoto show the structure spans 1,816 square feet, while the new standalone building is planned at 2,275 square feet. One of the property's current tenants, Mechanic Master, operates as a full-service repair and tire center that offers lease-to-own customer financing of up to $5,000 through Snap Finance.
Regulatory Steps Ahead of Opening Day
Before Joe Auto Shop can welcome customers, it faces more than just construction milestones. Under the Texas Architectural Barriers Act, codified in Texas Government Code Chapter 469, this project must register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and undergo inspection by a Registered Accessibility Specialist within a year of completion.
The city adds another layer of oversight specific to the auto industry. Houston requires all commercial auto repair operations to secure an Automotive Repair Facility License under Chapter 8 of the Houston Code of Ordinances, a process administered by the Houston Police Department's Auto Dealers Detail with an initial fee of $594.48, according to StartPermit. Because Houston operates without traditional municipal zoning codes, commercial automotive land use is instead governed through development regulations, deed restrictions, and specific ordinances, per the City of Houston.
Part of a Broader Spring Branch East Build-Out
The Joe Auto Shop project is a commercial development in Spring Branch East.
Available records do not indicate whether the Joe Auto Shop project has tapped any incentives for exterior upgrades, and they do not describe any such program.
