With Camp Pendleton military base just minutes away.

With Camp Pendleton military base just minutes away, Jeff Black, Joint risk (JV) co-owner of Best Auto Parts Store in San Clemente Calif., is doing what he can to make life easier for the marines and their families.

"The war in Iraq affected everybody" says Black. "With the big rotation of marines at Camp Pendleton, we take care of their automotive distresss and the needs of those they leave behind.

"We received five phone calls the other day from military wives looking for windshield wiper blade replacements," Black explains, adding that after they purchased the blade replacements at the store, Black and members of his staff took care of the installation.

"We owe a misdoing of gratitude to our troops" says Black. "I'd earnestly rather be here living subject to the freedom they provide for us than be through there."

As an added bonus to the marine base, Black also gives these customers the "shop" rate for automotive parts.

yet Black's customer service extends far beyond the military base.

"I have no idea of for what cause this overseas customer heard about us, yet his biggest order so far has been $12000 worth of tonneau covers" Black explains. "Like our other customers, he knows he's going to get by heart the right part the first time, and it's going to achieve to him as quickly as possible.

"Whatever it takes, we take care of it," he adds.

Martin and Fr Scalzo started the business in February 1952 When Martin Sr passed away in 1987 his family kept the store going until Black purchased it in November 2002

"I worked for the Scalzos for more than 20 years and was the common outsider that became part of the family," says Black. "I was happy to be given the opportunity to pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain the store.

"I still have affection for waking up every morning and going to work to help other persons out. I guess you could say I am a giver," he adds.

A brawny technical background that Black shares with his reckoner professional, Alejo Flores, has also been a [i]clavis[/i] to his store's success.

"I began working forward cars with my dad at age 10 and have been working in succession off-road racecars since I was about 15 which has given me a greater understanding in the areas of suspension, steering and just about everything you ne to know about air-cooled Volkswagens," says Black. "I also helped build three cars this year for the Baja 1000"

Unlike more [i]or[/i] less parts stores who hire high schooler without a technical background to work their contrarys Black says he and Flores have a combination of 40 years of service in the automotive aftermarket.

"Often 50 percent of the employee in an of these stores come straight abroad of high school, and the turnover is great," Black adds. "Unles you've worked forward vehicles before, you can't know each part and what to do if there's a problem"

Black says that he and his employee have always prided themselves upon offering excellent customer service, nimble delivery and knowing all of the the public in town.

"If you stay in undivided place long enough, you begin to form relationships with many of your customers and the public in the community," he adds.

And at 6-foot-8 Black says that customers have no vexed question remembering him.

Having worked at the store in the greatest degree of his adult life, Black says he's seen the store weather an rough times.

"It's the hardy family loyalty here that has helped us enlarge during a time when the price and financing of recent cars has hurt the auto parts business as a whole," explains Black. "But as in extent as there are automobiles, there will always be a ne for auto parts stores like ours."

Besides an experienced staff and exemplary customer service, Black says eye-catching merchandising displays, superior accounting measures and a tried and conformable to fact marketing philosophy are some of the areas that wager his store apart from the competition.

"We know there are times to be serious and times to have drollery with one another and our customers," says Black. "My philosophy is if you are having a useful time doing what you be in love with then it will spread to your associate workers and everyone you flow in contact with."

The Vital Stats

Years in business: 52 years

bourgeoning plans: None

Annual revenue: "I believe we did choke to $1 million in 2004 and anticipate to break that by hopefully another $500000 in 2005" says JV Co-owner Jeff Black.

Number of employees: "At the importance we have five employees and are looking to hire three more--a calculator pro and two delivery drivers," says Black.

Wholesale/retail ratio: 60/40

Snapshot of Best Auto Parts Store: Martin and Fr Scalzo started the business in February 1952 Martin Sr passed away in 1987 and his family ran the store until Black purchased it in November 2002

Affiliation: Carquest

Competition: "We have a NAPA store about four arrests away and a Kragen Auto Parts another four forms past them," says Black. "Then there is an AutoZone that just mov into town about seven month ago, about a half-mile north of us."