 Fast Lube, Inc.
El Paso, TX7922 North Loop Drive, El Paso, TX
Keeping vehicles well oiled and motors purring has been the aim of a Lower Valley family whose company has been around for 20 years.
Now the Marquez family company has expanded into its own building at 7922 North Loop Drive.
Fast Lube Inc., founded in 1984, had been leasing a building at 7849 North Loop, just a few blocks away.
Traffic was one-way in and out, and there wasn't much space for customers in the old building, said owner José Marquez.
The new building, which opened March 3, comes with three bays and "lots of free parking," he said.
And business is good, Marquez said. Last year, the company earned $300,000 in gross sales. About the same amount is expected this year, he said.
"We're very happy with Fast Lube," said Joe Mena, purchasing agent for King's Air, a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning company. "We have a fleet of 62 trucks, and for the past four years we've relied on Fast Lube to give us the good service our vehicles need."
Marquez said it was the wish of his parents that the company be housed in its own building. The lease on the former building had run out.
Ignacio Marquez and Maria de la Luz Marquez founded the company, along with Ricardo Marquez, Jose's brother. Their parents died in 2003, and Ricardo Marquez's health began to fail.
Ricardo Marquez asked Jose Marquez for help.
Jose Marquez and his wife, Cecilia, helped find a new location. Financing was needed.
Jose Marquez went to the El Paso Community College's Small Business Development Center for help in obtaining financing to buy the land and build the building.
The small business center's certified business adviser, Olga Tavárez, helped Jose and Cecilia Marquez with project analysis, financial forecasting and loan packaging.
"Without the guidance and help of Ms. Tavárez, I don't know what we would have done," Jose Marquez said.
Turned down by one El Paso lender, Jose Marquez and his wife turned to a different lender and received a commercial loan for $300,000 in September.
The Marquez couple invested $92,000 toward the start-up cost of the project and $412,200 for the building and equipment.
Jose Marquez said he expected to earn a net profit before taxes of $133,850 in 2005 and $149,868 in 2006.
Fast Lube is still a family business, Jose Marquez said. His wife keeps the books. Brother Ricardo Marquez supervises the operation.
"We plan to eventually increase the work force by four," Jose Marquez said.
"We're all excited about the new building," said Jose Nu–ez, a nine-year employee of Fast Lube. "We have more parking, and everything is roomier."
Jose Marquez said the company's aim is to provide good, fast service at a reasonable price for customers.
The average cost of an oil change at Fast Lube is $17 a vehicle, he said. Costs vary, according to the weight of the oil, he said.
In addition to servicing vehicles, Fast Lube administers state vehicle emissions inspection stickers and vehicle registration stickers.
Story by Ken Flynn, Times Reporter. Mr. Flynn may be reached at kflynn@elpasotimes.com; 546-6138.
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