What's in a Name? The Story Behind Hampton Auto Glass

From a small road in Lynden, Washington, to a family business serving Clark County since 1989.

Every business has a story, and sometimes the meaning behind its name goes much deeper than people realize.

For Hampton Auto Glass, our name isn't a family surname or something chosen by a marketing company. It's a connection to our family's history, my father's Dutch roots, and a small road in northern Washington.

And believe it or not, I can still remember the conversations that led to the name Hampton Auto Glass.

It All Started in 1989

In 1989, my father was preparing to start his own auto glass business in Clark County, Washington. There were plenty of decisions to make, but one of the first was figuring out what to call the new company.

I was just a young kid at the time, but I remember sitting in my parents' bedroom while they talked about different names for the business. They would go back and forth, tossing around ideas and trying to find something that sounded right.

I wasn't exactly part of the decision-making process. I was mostly just listening, occasionally offering my opinion about whether I liked a particular name.

One thing my parents had decided was that they didn't want to use our family's last name. They wanted something different, something that would represent the business while still having meaning to them.

As it turned out, the inspiration came from a place that had been part of my father's life long before he ever thought about starting an auto glass company.

From the Netherlands to Hampton Road

My father immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands when he was a young child. He grew up in Lynden, Washington, a small town near the Canadian border known for its strong Dutch heritage and close-knit farming community.

It was there that he spent much of his childhood, growing up on a road called Hampton Road.

For my father, Hampton Road wasn't just another street. It was part of his childhood and the community where he grew up.

Years later, as my parents were discussing names for their new business, the name Hampton came up. It was simple, easy to remember, and carried a personal connection to my father's past.

Of all the names they considered, Hampton was the one that stuck.

And in 1989, Hampton Auto Glass was born.

One of the things I find interesting is that Hampton Road still exists in Lynden, Washington, today. What started as the name of a road in a small Washington town became the name of a business that has served Clark County for more than three decades.

A Family Business From the Very Beginning

Although my father started Hampton Auto Glass, he wasn't building the business alone.

My mother was an important part of Hampton Auto Glass from the beginning. She worked in the business alongside my father and played a significant role in helping establish what it would become.

Like so many family-owned businesses, Hampton Auto Glass was more than just one person's dream. It was a family effort, built through hard work, dedication, and the support of those closest to us.

Looking back, I appreciate that both of my parents were part of building the foundation of the business we have today.

Their involvement helped make Hampton Auto Glass more than just a place of business. It became part of our family's story.

A Childhood Memory That Became Part of My Future

Looking back, I never would have imagined that those conversations I overheard as a child would eventually become part of my own story.

At the time, I was simply a kid listening to my parents talk about starting a business. I didn't realize that the name they were choosing would someday be on the building of a company I would own.

In 2017, I took over Hampton Auto Glass, becoming the second-generation owner of the business my parents had helped build nearly 30 years earlier.

My father remained involved for another year or two as I transitioned into ownership. It was a period when one generation was stepping back and another was taking the business forward.

Today, I have the privilege of carrying on what my parents began.

And much like my father had the support of my mother, I've been fortunate to have the support of my wife as well.

My wife has stepped in to support the business and has been an important source of encouragement as we've continued growing Hampton Auto Glass. Her willingness to be involved and stand behind what we're building means a great deal to me.

It's something I appreciate even more now, knowing firsthand what it takes to own and operate a family business.

In many ways, the story has come full circle. What started with my parents working together to build a business has continued into the next generation, with my wife and me

carrying that same family commitment forward.

Growing While Remembering Our Roots

A lot has changed since 1989. Vehicles are more advanced, windshields have become an important part of modern vehicle safety systems, and the auto glass industry looks very different from when my father first opened the doors.

Hampton Auto Glass has grown, too. Today, we serve our community from two locations: West Vancouver and East Vancouver/Camas.

But through all the changes, one thing has stayed the same.

Our name.

More Than Just an Auto Glass Shop

When someone sees the Hampton Auto Glass name, they might assume Hampton is our family's last name. But now you know there's a little more history behind it.

It's a name that connects my father's childhood in Lynden, the business my parents helped establish in 1989, and the company my wife and I are proud to support and carry forward today.

As a locally owned, second-generation family business, we understand that our reputation is built on more than just replacing windshields. It's built on relationships, quality workmanship, and earning the trust of the people in our community.

Since 1989, Clark County has supported Hampton Auto Glass, and we're grateful for every customer who has been part of that journey.

We've had the opportunity to grow alongside our community, support local organizations and events, and continue building on the foundation my parents established.

A Name That Reminds Us Where We Came From

Sometimes I think back to being that young kid sitting in my parents' bedroom, listening to them talk about what they should name their new business.

At the time, it probably seemed like a small decision. But more than 37 years later, that name is still on our buildings, our vehicles, and the work we do every day.

For me, Hampton Auto Glass is more than a business name. It's a reminder of my father's journey from the Netherlands to Washington, the hard work and dedication of both my parents, and the responsibility I have to continue what they started.

It's also a reminder that behind many small businesses are families who work together, support one another, and believe in what they're building.

And it all started with a little road called Hampton Road in Lynden, Washington.

From our family to yours, thank you for supporting Hampton Auto Glass since 1989.

— Hampton Auto Glass, Proudly Serving Clark County Since 1989