Just Brakes Plus

Since 2004, Omar has operated Just Brakes Plus, an auto mechanic shop on Whitby’s main road, Brock Street. It’s a shop where he combines his love of vehicles, a desire to fix any problem, and a willingness to meet anything head on.

Omar is a people person and it’s important to him that others know that. So much so, he’s even put “Customers come first” on his business card. It’s not that money doesn’t matter, but that he puts other priorities first.

“I take them to the car, show them what’s wrong with it, and explain what needs to be fixed. I also don’t fix what doesn’t need to be fixed, but instead tell them how long they can go before it needs attention. This way, they can save up for the repair instead of being hit that day with a huge bill. Most repairs come from people’s budgets because they can’t or don’t want to put out the money, and it turns into cause-and-effect because the problems were left too long.”

Omar extends this approach to his own team, too. “The guys I employ, they get paid no matter what, so they don’t have to worry about finding work and gouging the customer.” It’s a practice he’s employed the whole time Just Brakes Plus has been around, and he chalks it up to previous experience. “I have a business background,” he explains, "and I know that without the customers, I wouldn’t be here.”