Community Highlights: Meet Christopher Jiron of La Familia Automotive

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Jiron.

Christopher, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always had a passion for understanding how machines work ever since I was able to pick up a wrench, my dad showed me the ropes of the mechanic world when I got older, and I decided to go to college to be a mechanic when I was 18 years old, I have worked on cars since I was a kid though, and pretty much was self taught before even going to college but I wanted to further my education because I believe that I can always be better, my wife actually helped convince me to make it my full time career because she seen I had a skill and figured I could do a lot with it, so she helped me build this business, helped me gain customers, she gives me all the credit but I really give her all the credit because without her I would have never even had the motivation to start this business, when we first found out my wife was pregnant we were facing an eviction because I had to get a hip replacement at 25 years old, and lost my job due to the fact of being immobilized. We ended up becoming homeless and we’re homeless for a year and some months, as we were living in hotels, and our car, and shelters I only worked on cars as a side hustle to help me and my pregnant wife survive and to be able to provide a roof over our heads for the night instead of sleeping in our car. When my son was born my parents allowed my wife and I to stay for a while, but shortly after a month of living with my parents we were accepted into a family shelter program with the salvation army and were able to gain some sort of stability so that is when my wife and I decided to make my side hustle into my full blown career. I don’t know where I would be without my wife she has maintained and kept it all organized by scheduling appointments for me, actively advertising our business and promoting our business to gain more customers, she worked in retail as a manager most of her life so she prides herself in customer service. She also puts all of the appointments into my calendar with the addresses and the times and even accompanies me to my jobs to make sure I am safe and a vehicle doesn’t fall on top of me when I am working, all while taking care of our son. She really is an amazing woman I sure lucked out with her. But that is pretty much it, ive done work all over Colorado. Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster, Arvada, Lakewood, Harvey park, Aurora, Parker, Denver metro area, etc etc, I will not travel to Colorado springs or anywhere over 45 minutes just due to the inconvenience of it and time and gas. If you’re local I’ll make the commute forsure though. I love being a mobile mechanic and am glad I have started something I hope my son will follow into my footsteps one day and be running this business as I am, the goal is to open a shop one day.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been an easy road at all. I struggled with a bad hip my whole life due to hip dysplasia and struggled being able to keep a job due to being in and out of the hospital, in January of 2023 I got a full hip replacement that helped give me a better quality of life, but in the process my wife and I got evicted from our first apartment together as a couple and we had just found out she was pregnant, so everything was at such a bad time, I couldn’t work and my wife couldn’t work because she had to take care of me while I was still recovering, and in physical therapy, after we were evicted we were living in our car for a while and couch surfing for a bit as well, spent lots of nights in motels and hotels then we landed in a family shelter for about 4-5 months while we were homeless I was only doing mechanic work as a side hustle to be able to provide for my wife and son.

As you know, we’re big fans of La Familia Automotive . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My wife and I run a mobile mechanic business, I specialize in vehicles, I can diagnose a vehicle fairly quickly, I am honest and reliable, and all of my work is guaranteed, I come with lots of great reviews from all of my customers, I have a 5 star rating on my Facebook business page, and I will be creating my website here shortly, I am most proud of having loyal customers who always refer me to others. And I am always happy to be able to help, I offer reasonable prices on repairs and will beat shop prices, I am also ase certified and have the knowledge to be able to work on vehicles.

Any big plans?
The goal is to own my own shop to be able to hand down to my son one day, while still offering mobile mechanic services for those who have vehicles that are out of commission.

My plans for the future are to open up my very own mechanic shop, and teach my boy how to work on vehicles so that he can take over for me when my mission is done, i pray that my son will follow in my footsteps and continue our family company/legacy.

Pricing:

• Standard diagnostic $70
• Oil changes $80 prices vary depending on vehicle (oil and filter are to be provided by customer)
• Vehicle inspections $150

Image Credits
Sinthia Calderon the person who recommended us is the one who took our maternity photos, I believe her company name is on the photos if not then she will need credit for those photos as well.