Brakes Plus is proud to announce the opening of their 53rd store, located in Stapleton at 35th & Quebec Street. Brakes Plus is a family owned business specializing in brakes, plus services such as alignments, shocks and struts, scheduled mileage maintenance package, coolant and air conditioning and other minor repairs. Brakes Plus has stores in Colorado, Texas and Arizona.
Brakes Plus was founded in 1990 with the premise that customers wanted an honest and dependable place to take their cars. They wanted that secure feeling of the old neighborhood garage. Brakes Plus is in the business of building relationships with our customers, vendors and employees. We are proud of the growth of Brakes Plus® and this growth was possible because of our philosophy of installing quality products with world-class service at a great price.
We hope to see you soon. “What’s Stopping You?”
New Brake Plus Store Location Address:
3525 Quebec St.
303-377-2889
Brakes Plus announced it’s sponosrship with the Colorado Rockies Baseball Team for the 3rd year in a row. Brakes Plus is a Colorado based company and is a proud supporter of the Rockies and many other Colorado organizations.
For more information on Brakes Plus visit them at www.BrakesPlus.com.
ANDIAMO Magazine - Brakes Plus “Putting on the brakes accelerated their success” Larry Pisciotta & Sons
MAY 2008
by Maria Benallo
Larry Pisciotta built the Brakes Plus empire on a simple premise - “I wanted to provide the secure feeling of an old neighborhood garage with the best service found anywhere” Founded in 1990, Pisciotta and his three sons run this highly successful chain of service centers. Dean Pisciotta (oldest of the three sons) works as the Chief Financial Officer; Mark serves as the Vice President of Sales; and R. J. works as the Vice President of Operations. Despite their tremendous success, the Pisciotta family runs this business with compassion and humility. “At Brakes Plus we not only take care of our customers, we also take care of our employees,” says founder Larry Pisciotta (with a great deal of pride).
As a young boy growing up in Pueblo Larry Pisciotta says he learned the essential keys to running a successful business from his Father. Half Sicilian half Napolitano he grew up spending every Sunday afternoon with his family. He said he always had a vision as a child to “grow big.” His father emphasized the importance of an education and stressed the significance of knowing and achieving all you can. With these two solid elements he went straight to college after high school. He graduated from the University of Denver in 1964 and was immediately recruited by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in their management training program. He ran 2 stores in California where Bob Hope was a frequent customer. After 3 years Firestone transferred him back to Colorado where they challenged him to a slow store not seeing any profit. Within months the store successfully grew into one of the busiest shops in town making a profitable turn. He then approached the company and bought into his first store, owning 49% of the Firestone shop. The partnership bloomed into one of the largest tire dealerships in the Rocky Mountain West. In 1983 he sold his thirteen ownerships back to Firestone with the condition of a no-compete clause and remained the Marketing Manager for the 33 store region. At this time his plan was to retire. However, after 6 heart attacks and open heart surgery he didn’t skip a beat. He wanted to re-invest in another shop so he opened his own. Putting on the Brakes was something Pisciotta knew how to do well; on May 1, 1990 he opened the first Brakes Plus at Dayton and Arapahoe Road. The store is still open and running today with the local feel of a family owned business. Pisciotta, a second generation Italian spoke emotionally spoke about his Father he said “My Dad taught me about life and how to treat people.” Pisciotta’s father passed before he could see the true value of what a powerful mind can manifest. Today as he works close to his sons, it is very evident that the instilled values, integrity and compassion are all being passed down to his three boys. He was mesmerized as he was recounting the days spent with his father who believed in his son enough to loan him thirty- thousand dollars to invest in his first Firestone ownership.
THE SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS IS NO SECRET
Approaching their 18th year anniversary they drive home the fact that they are using the best parts and technology in the industry. They want to give their customers the secure feeling of a trained professional working on their car. They strive to keep the latest and best technology using only quality parts. Servicing more than thirty-thousand cars monthly they italicize on customer service and guarantee customer satisfaction. They specialize in brakes but the high end service doesn’t stop there. They will get you through the green lights with services such as alignments, shocks, struts, coolant and air conditioning and other minor repairs. Brake Plus stores are located throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and Dallas. The vision of this family operated organization accelerated from the moment the first store was opened. It takes quality, care, precision and dedication to run a top notch store and the basics start from the top. I spent a few minutes with his sons whose offices are down the hall from Pisciotta they speak about him with the same gleam their Father speaks about their Grandfather. “Our Father is a very giving guy.” Pisciotta’s office is filled with family pictures he points to the ones of his six grandchildren with great pride, and says without my boys I couldn’t have done it. All three sons are College graduates and share ownership with their father. The three other partners agree in the spirit of sharing and stress the family values they were taught: respect and working together. The pointed out the first line company’s mission statement: Brakes Plus has two important assets, our employees and our customers. When I asked Larry Pisciotta the secret to running a successful chain of stores he humbly replied, “Keep your employees happy and they will keep the customers happy.” All fifty-two stores are closed on Sundays, so their employees can spend time with their families. The company promotes a five day work week with incredible benefits. They pay 99% of health care for their employees in addition to a 401K and many other perks, making the benefits untouchable. In addition they offer a manager/partner a percentage of the monthly profits. The giving doesn’t stop there; Larry Pisciotta is 30 year Rotarian and sits on the board of the Aurora Community College Foundation in addition to giving to families and youth groups along with several other local charities the business helps annually. When he does something, he does it right. Pisciotta and his wife Jean will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary in August. Success is a class Larry Pisciotta has mastered!
Community College of Aurora Foundation Luncheon, Brakes Plus presenting sponsor for 2nd year. Over 400 in attendance for scholarships.
