Garage Of The Year Finalists: Colalillo Automotive Services Ltd.

One of the criteria SSGM Magazine looks for when selecting a Garage of the Year winner is how well they adjust to changing economic times and whether or not they take a proactive approach to the services they offer. Colalillo Automotive Services is one such service centre that fits this mould. Jim Colalillo has been in the automotive industry for more than twenty years but it wasn’t until five years ago that he decided to take his garage to the next level and custom-design his own building to fit the needs he felt many other garages were not offering.

His previous location was an Imperial Oil franchise in Mississauga on Central Parkway and Highway 10 which ran six bays when Imperial Oil was still a service centre franchise. When he was informed that his location would be renovated from an automotive garage to a gas station/car wash, Jim started looking for property where he could start building what would eventually become Colalillo Automotive Services Limited.

“I wanted somewhere I could really be proud of. I’ve been in the automotive business for so long that I know what I want. I just didn’t want to only work for a living,” says Colalillo. “So I built a building that could supply income. However, working on cars is also my enjoyment. There isn’t one day where I don’t want to come into work because I love my job.”

From the outside, his service centre looks more like a dealership than what people normally associate when they hear “garage.” In addition to offering service maintenance on most model vehicles, Colalillo’s shop includes an extensive rental car business, a wide range of high-quality tires and rims available for install and purchase, as well as minor detailing/estimating work which is either done in-house or off-site. It should also be noted that the second floor of his shop includes a dance studio, a dental practice, and an optometrist’s office which he leases out.

His expansive waiting area includes television, Internet access, as well as a viewing window where customers can see what’s going on while the technicians are working on their vehicles. Also, his garage is incredibly clean, with ceilings reaching 20-feet high, and noise insulated walls. The use of windowed skylights as opposed to incandescent or fluorescent light saves on energy costs during the summer through the use of natural light.

Colalillo’s garage also works extensively with BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen models and even has two custom hoists imported from Italy that are capable of lifting Ferraris, Porsches, and Lamborghinis, allowing him to maintain a bevy of repeat high-end clientele.

“If it wasn’t for my repeat customers I’d have a hard time,” continues Colallilo. “There isn’t one day that doesn’t go by where I don’t have two-three customers in my garage. In order to survive you have to do more than just one thing.”

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— 10 bays, two drive thrus

— Two licensed technicians, two apprentices and one service writer.

— Door rate: $89.

— Supports: numerous soccer teams and girl’s hockey teams in the Mississauga Area. — (905) 273-6122