AUTO SHOP owner Shaffique Bani outside his busy Southside Auto Centre.
OWNER Shaffique Bani take a break from his busy day.
Shaffique Bani has been tinkling with vehicles since a teenager and his dream has always been to open his own auto mechanic shop.
Many years have gone by and today Bani runs the successful Southside Auto Centre, at 3021 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Tenth St., which he has owned for more than eight years.
“I have been doing this job since the age of 14,” says the affable Bani. “Sometimes I think that I was born a mechanic.”
The busy shop is kept going by the many regular customers who have been bringing their vehicles to Southside for years. They trust Bani and he in turn looks after their vehicles.
“I love fixing things,” he admits. “It is my pleasure to fix the vehicles of customers when it is broken and does not run.”
It took him two decades to get this far after being sponsored to Canada by a family member from Afghanistan 20 years ago.
“I have worked at Midas, Canadian Tire and other places to get here,” he explains. “I always wanted to own my own shop and an opportunity came up.”
His business receives many good reviews on social media and customers drive from across the city to bring their vehicles here to be repaired.
“I love the community and the people here,” he vows. “They have been very good in supporting me and other businesses in these challenging times.”
The father of three young children says one of the secret of his success is honesty.
“Honesty is the best policy,” he stresses. “If you don’t have customers then you don’t have a business.”
A customer awaiting his vehicle says he loves the friendly atmosphere at Southside.
“These are very friendly and honest people,” says Munaf, a newish customer at Southside. “The first time I was here, he helped me right away and I come back ever since.”
Bani has a passion for the job and says buying the business and moving to Canada were among the best moves he has made in his life.
“Canada is such a great country,” he admits. “I have here more than I could ever accomplish at home.”
Southside Auto Centre repairs all kinds of vehicles and Shaffique can be reached at 415-255-8885.