COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – National chains buying out local businesses has become a common trend over the past few years.

In Columbus, at least two established auto-body shops are under new ownership.

Caledonia Native and auto-body shop owner Keegan Hays decided to change that narrative.

“The corporate buy outs came to Mississippi and bought out a lot of my independent companies that I was selling paint to. So basically, it kind of took sales away from my business, so I decided to end my paint career and open a body shop,” said Hays.

Hays has been in the automotive paint business for more than 20 years.

Last August, he opened HPS Body Shop in the former MGM Paint & Body building.

“I was blessed with the business he already had available there, which allowed me to start growing. And the

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