Luis Romero

Luis Romero fled communist Cuba with his family when he was just nine years old. Luis recalls his father running a small fruit stand in Cuba and being forced to stop when the government forcefully demanded half the proceeds. Things got better for Luis and his family, however, once they got to the United States. Luis’ father started working in an auto repair shop, and two years later, opened his own. It was there that Luis learned not only how to work with cars, but how to build a successful business.

Now, Luis owns Quick Tire & Auto, a tire and auto repair shop located on Smith Street right next to Honey’s property. Quick Tire & Auto has been in business since 1976, with Luis taking over for his cousin in 2004. For the past 20 years, Luis has run the business, which employs six people full time and services hundreds of customers each week. Luis now spends most of his time in Florida, leaving the day-to-day running of the shop to his longtime manager Mario. Like Luis, Mario’s family also came to America in search of a better life. Running Quick Tire & Auto has provided that better life for both of them.