Tuffy Auto Service Center on Eight Mile just west of Livernois is many "onlies." It's the only African-American-owned Tuffy in the state of Michigan. It's the only Tuffy in the city of Detroit. And its owners, Nicole and Gerald Huffman, might be the only auto shop owners looking to give away free service.
The couple is offering two free tune-ups -- up to $500 in value -- to Detroiters that need work done on their car but just can't afford it at the moment. "We have a lot of people supporting us, and this is our way of giving back to the community," says Nicole. "We've been noticing a lot of people haven't been able to get their car repaired and, before we purchased this facility, we were in the same boat."
Anyone in need of car repair that they cannot afford should send a letter to Tuffy's at 7411 W. Eight Mile Rd. explaining their current situation and naming the year, make and model of the vehicle needing repair, an outline of any concerns with the vehicle and any previously written estimates. Two letters will be drawn at random on June 30, 2009.
The Huffmans were offered the Detroit Tuffy franchise in 2007 after Gerald, who has been a mechanic and technician for 26 years, had worked there six months. Nicole, who has a background in customer services, says, "It was such a blessing, of course. It was a perfect fit for us." Their purchase was financed in part by ShoreBank Enterprise Detroit, a nonprofit affiliate of
ShoreBank Corporation.
Tuffy Auto Service Center can be reached at 313-862-2886.
Source: Nicole Huffman, Tuffy
Auto Service Center Detroit
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.