Since Chuck Salerno was a young child, he has been involved and fascinated by the automotive industry. At the age of six, Salerno and his father began working on their first car together. That first vehicle was a '55 Chevy, and to this day Salerno still has that car. Salerno believes that his ownership of Genuine and Complete Automotive is not a surprise, but rather a progression of his love of community interaction and automotive work.
“For me, automotive work is a full-time job. I’m always in the industry whether I’m at my job or somewhere else. Cars are in my blood,” Salerno said.
This past April marked Salerno’s business' seventh year of establishment. For Salerno, his business is more than a business; it's a place to meet new people and make lasting connections. Salerno named his automotive shop Genuine and Complete Auto because after working in several car dealerships he realized he wanted to create a store that prided itself on genuine and real customer service.
“We pride ourselves on not taking advantage of people and giving them what their car really needs. We want to have that honesty factor,” said Salerno.
Seven years ago when Salerno decided to open his business, he realized it was time to open because he believed it was the next step in his life. Over the years of progressing from a mechanic, to a service advisor, to a service manager, to running several car dealerships in Chicago, Salerno knew it was time for him to start managing his own business.
As the owner of his automotive business, Salerno spends his time doing a variety of tasks. From conversing with customers, to helping the mechanics, advertising for his business, paying his store and employees, and hiring new employees, Salerno is always in his store helping someone out.
At Genuine and Complete Automotive, Salerno prides himself on the fact that his business is full service. His company is able to do any work on anyone’s car. With owning his own business, Salerno finds many moments of happiness at his job. Some of those moments are helping out the community, making relationships with his customers, seeing his employees be happy and successful, and forming bonds with his vendors.
One of Salerno’s biggest accomplishments in life and with his business was being able to provide a car for a family who was in need of one. Since that big accomplishment, every year Salerno tries to find a way to help out a family in need. The most recent family he helped out was a mother who lost her job to COVID-19 and was not able to afford tires. Salerno had heard about this mother's loss and free of charge gave her two free tires.
Aside from being a business owner; Salerno spends his time collecting cars and guitars, spending time with his family, building 1980s bikes, raising exotic reptiles, and performing in his recently assembled band.
Salerno would like anyone coming into his business to know that he has your back.
“We’re here to do business the honest way. We think about each person coming into our store as a friend, not a customer,” Salerno said.