Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsy Avila.
Hi Chelsy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My husband and I officially started Safe Choice Auto on June 1, 2023, although we had been planning and preparing for quite some time. We felt strongly about starting our own business because we knew we had more to offer our community. We brought fresh ideas, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to honesty above all else. Sometimes while working for others, you don’t get the opportunity to share your ideas or perspectives which is something very important to us.
We were also motivated by the desire to create a better financial future for our young family and to teach our children that hard work, honesty, and perseverance are the foundation of success.
We spent over a year searching for the right location. Commercial properties were limited, but eventually we found a small shop just around the corner from our home. The location was ideal because we had a toddler and another baby on the way. It allowed me to stay actively involved in the business while continuing to care for our growing family. My mother-in-law, who lives next door, was an incredible support during that time, helping with childcare while I worked alongside my husband and remained available for our children throughout the day.
Like most new businesses, the beginning was challenging. Building a customer base and generating enough work to cover expenses required a great deal of effort and determination.
As our customer base expanded, we quickly outgrew our original location and needed a larger facility to accommodate our growth and bring Daniel’s dad, my father in law on the team as another lead mechanic.
Around that time, an opportunity presented itself that felt truly meant to be. We relocated to Mechanicsburg and took over a larger shop previously operated by Star Automotive. The owner was retiring just as our lease at the original location was ending. His support played a significant role in helping us continue our growth by always being available for any questions and allowing us to connect with his customers.
Today, as we enter our third year in business, we continue to learn, grow, and improve every day. Starting Safe Choice Auto has not been easy, but it has been one of the best decisions we have ever made for our family. We are proud of the reputation we have built through honest service, quality workmanship, and genuine care for our customers.
We are excited about the future and remain committed to providing reliable, high-quality automotive repair and maintenance services to our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business from the ground up has definitely not been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges was building a customer base while managing the financial pressure that comes with launching a business. As a young family with two small children, balancing business ownership with family life also required a lot of sacrifice.
Another challenge has been competing with larger, well-established repair shops. We knew we couldn’t outspend them on advertising, so we focused on earning trust through honesty, communication, and quality workmanship. Every customer matters, and we worked hard to build our reputation one vehicle at a time.
Looking back, every obstacle has made us more resilient and reinforced why we started Safe Choice Auto—to build a business that serves our community with integrity while creating a better future for our family.
As you know, we’re big fans of Safe Choice Auto LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Safe Choice Auto is a family-owned auto repair shop in Mechanicsburg that my husband and I started from the ground up. We work on all makes and models, from routine maintenance to diagnostics and repairs.
What we’re most proud of is the way we treat people. We believe in honest recommendations, clear communication, and taking the time to explain what’s going on with a vehicle- even bringing customers into the shop to educate them on why they need what we are recommending. We just started using digital inspections in an effort to make the experience even more transparent and convenient for our customers. As owners, we’re involved every day, and we think that personal involvement makes a big difference. Our goal has always been to build a business that people can trust and feel comfortable coming back to.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
My husband has always had such a optimistic view on life even growing up in a such poor country, Cuba. He said he always felt like he was meant to come to the United States and fulfill his potential. I admire him so much for taking such a big chance on coming to a new country and starting a new life.
Growing up for me, I was always adventurous as a little girl. Not afraid to go on the biggest roller coasters and very active in sports. As I got older, I became more cautious and sort of lost that side of me until I met my husband who inspired me to go after my goals and dreams and not to be afraid.
If you ask either one of us what got us to this point we both would say each other.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://safechoiceauto.com
