Friday, July 15th, 2011
“I’ve been fixing cars since before most of you were born. I started in Jamaica, where I was born, and have been doing it for the forty years I’ve been living in Washington. I started fixing police cars over at Northeast Ford on West Virginia Avenue. After nine years there, I left to open my own business. My first shop was on 14th and Belmont, and then I moved to Georgia Avenue.
“A ways back, I returned to Northeast. Now, they call me the Mayor of Congress Street. I have been working as a mechanic here for a long time….and I mean a long time…..like 27 years long time. I can tell you everything about everything here. When I first got here, there was nothing around here and the place was rough and tough. I knew that one of these days, it was going to get better. It did.
“As the neighborhood changes, I get a lot of new customers. Most people find me through word of mouth. I can fix any car out there. If it has four wheels, I can take it apart and put it back together. Now, I work by myself because it is hard to find people with my work ethic. People don’t want to work no more.
“See, I am a very picky person. If you can’t work how I work, you can’t work here. I don’t like customers coming back or needing to recheck things. Once a car goes out of my shop, it stays out because I fix the problem.
“I don’t mind working by myself because I listen to my Christian music. See, I am a man of faith, so I never feel alone when the father is here guiding me.”
Tony’s Auto Repair is located at 1116 Congress Street NE.
People’s District will be taking a short break until July 18th. Until then, we share with you some of our favorite stories from the past year.

Alerts
ShareThis



this site is so refreshing! stories and experiences of ppl that take pride in their city instead of developers looking for $$$ and transient ppl using us as a doormat or stepping stone!
Comment by kia — August 2, 2011 @ 3:40 pm