Need a repair? Bellmore Tire & Auto can help

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

When Michael Waldman was a child, his mother’s car, a blue Pontiac Bonneville, would frequently break down. The car would overheat and was in such disrepair that Waldman would often need to push the car from the outside to start. It was a frequent routine to get the car started when he had to go to school or a basketball game with his friends. Fixing the car was expensive and added up to hundreds of dollars per visit.

“It was all our money, and then the would same thing would happen again and I would be so mad,” Waldman said.

Although he knew a thing or two about auto repair, the Brooklyn native never thought he’d be in the auto industry. He started his career selling computer supplies, and he later owned a carpet store. Before Hurricane Sandy, he operated a popular frozen yogurt shop, Strawberry Fields, on Fulton St. in Manhattan.

After Hurricane Sandy devastated much of New York City and the South Shore of Long Island, Waldman needed to start a new business, and discovered his passion for buying and selling cars in November of 2012, a month after the hurricane.

After his mother introduced him to a business partner, Neil Becker, a trusted mechanic in Hewlett, Waldman saw a great business opportunity with someone he knew he could trust.

“He reinvents himself and he's always got his finger on the pulse, that's one of the things I envy about him,” Waldman’s longtime friend Jack Mehani said.

Last year the American Automobile Association estimated that Americans pay an average of $500 to $600 in vehicle repairs. They recommend setting aside $50 per month for maintenance and repairs. While costly, car repairs are a regular part of life when you’re a vehicle owner, something that Waldman remembers from his childhood. He knows that not everyone has the money to set aside each month for repairs.

“I really want people to be treated right and do the best thing,” he said. “My goal is to just make sure everyone is happy that walks in.”

Waldman knows that finding a trusted mechanic can be hard for most people, which is why he partnered with Becker to help the Bellmore community.

Waldman and Becker opened Bellmore Tire & Auto last week. The store stands at 2100 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore.

For the first few months of the shops grand opening, Waldman and Becker have decided to offer steep discounts. They’re offering free inspections, 20 percent off repairs for cars — of all makes and models — with state-of-the-art equipment.

And aside from repairs, the versatile shop also buys and sells cars. For more information, and to get in touch, call (516) 308-7773.