Visions 2015 Rockdale News Special Section | Page 20

Entrepreneur Spotlight

Driven to

succeed
Young entrepreneur builds
business by treating customers
right, providing for family
By Martin Rand III

W

hen J. Arturo Castaneda was
15-years-old, he went to a local
Conyers tire shop looking for
work. The owner of the Statham Tire
shop, Hubert Day, wouldn’t hire Castaneda though, because he was too young to
employ at the time.
“He told me to come back when I was
older,” said Castaneda.
Fast forward 11 years and Castaneda, also known as Luis, not
only works at the shop he was rejected from earlier, but he’s now
running the place and trying to follow in Day's footsteps.
He took over ownership of the shop, located at 1058 West
Ave. in Conyers, in 2011 at the ripe age of 22 and changed the
name of the place to Rockdale New and Used Tires. Day’s family
still owns the property however, and Castaneda rents the building space.
With his older cousin, Alberto, in tow, the two took $20,000
and turned the business into what it is today.
“I was young, but I knew I wanted to own my own shop,” said
Castaneda, who’s now 26-years-old. “You don’t usually open a
business with a $20,000, but I made it happen.”
The Mexico-native Castaneda moved to Rockdale County
when he was 13. It took him three years before he finally landed
a position at the Tire Depot, 4160 Ga. Hwy 278, in Covington,
where his brother was working.
“I didn’t finish school, but I’ve done pretty good for myself,”
Castaneda jokingly said. “I still may go back and finish it. I’m
pretty good at numbers.”
Castaneda started working for the West Avenue shop in 2008,
which was under a different owner by then. When he heard the
business was for sale, he jumped at the opportunity.
“I always wanted my own shop,” he said. “I didn’t want to not
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try and then look back and say I should have tried it.”
The business has been flourishing under Castaneda’s ownership. He not only sells tires, but also offers “full automotive
services,” such as oil changes and tire rotations. About a year
and half ago, he opened up a second shop in Augusta, Georgia.
Treating all customers “right” has been the key to the success
of the shop in its brief history, says Castaneda.
Another big key to Castaneda’s success has been his family.
His wife of eight years, Karen Perez, and their three kids, ages
7, 6 and 4, are what have been motivating Castaneda all these
years.
“Without them, without her, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.
“She’s the best. I don’t do it to get rich. I do it just for my kids.”
Prior to owning the shop, Castaneda says there were a lot of
rough times for him, Perez and their two kids. When their third
child came into the world, he knew he couldn’t keep living the
life he was living.
“It was pretty tough those days,” he said. “I just thank God
for giving me an opportunity to make a better life for them.”
Even though he was told he was too young to work, Castenada has a message for any prospective business owners out there.
“It’s never too early to start a business,” he said. RN