Business: Wildside Customs
Address: 10S187 Schoger Drive, Naperville
Phone/website: 630-504-2300; www.callwildside.com
Owner: Brian Spravka, 37, of Bristol; Service Manager: Joshua Fiandaca, 33, of Winfield
Years in business: 15
What does your business do? “We do maintenance and repairs, specializing in Jeep Wrangler, the new Broncos and the new Jeep pickups, the Gladiators,” Spravka said. “Since I took over, we’ve expanded into other makes and models depending on what the customer is looking to do. From oil changes and tires to full frame-up restorations.”
How’s the business doing? “We’re doing all right. We just got a new lift that can lift an 18,000-pound vehicle.”
What’s the background? “The shop has been here 15 years at least. I bought it with my ex-partner four and a half years ago. I bought him out in August.”
Why are you working here? “I’ve been turning wrenches professionally for about 20 years and tinkering around with stuff, whether it’s fixing lawnmowers or helping my dad work on his motorcycle. … Doing stuff with my grandparents. When I was in kindergarten, they asked us to tell a fun fact. I said, ‘I know how to use a chainsaw.’ That was the ’90s so everything was still fine. Probably be concerning now. I’ve worked here five years in April. … I can’t leave anything stock. It’s boring.”
“I’ve been a car guy since I was a kid,” Fiandaca said. “Teaching didn’t work out for me. I was teaching 6th-grade math. I didn’t like the politics. I got out of college in 2014, worked until 2016. Bounced around in the auto industry. … I met (Spravka) when I ran a Firestone store. We stayed in touch. One thing led to another. … I’ve been here since August. It’s one of the few places I’ve enjoyed working at.”
What happens when someone wants to rehab their Jeep? “We sit down, talk with them, get everything they want to do, get the vehicle in, see if it’s worth it,” Spravka said. “The two we are doing now, both are in really good shape. One is a 2002 and he’s put over $80,000 into it. The other is a ’79 and he’s in over $50,000. It was the customer’s father’s. … We just had bumpers for it chromed. Took it to The Finishing Touch in Chicago.
“We had one of the old World War II Jeeps come in. He uses it for shows. It was a 1945 (model). That was pretty cool.”
Why are you into Jeeps? “It’s basically like a giant Lego. It’s the most modifiable vehicle out there. It’s really capable off road. Make it better. Personalize it. Make it your own,” Spravka said. “You know it’s a Jeep when you see it.”
“It’d still iconic,” Fiandaca said. “When you see the front end of it, you know it’s a Jeep.,”
“There’s a good community as well. Most of the people are pretty cool,” Spravka added.
Are your customers loyal? “Oh, yeah. Lot of repeat customers. Lot of new. Lot who had a bad experience with the previous owner. ‘Hey, we’re under new management. Come back and give us a shot.’”
How about this location? “We get a lot of people who didn’t know we are here. So we’re trying to get more exposure on Facebook, car shows.”
Will you be at the Chicago Auto Show? “We’re not having a booth this year. Probably next year. … The auto show is more if you’re buying a new car. World of Wheels is a place to see all the cool stuff and find a local shop. We’re looking at that next year.”
How many employees do you have? “Seven counting us.”
What about prices? “It varies from a quick air pressure check, which we don’t charge for, to the sky’s the limit. How cool will your wallet let us go?”
What about competition? “There are a lot of off-road shops in the area. But there’s plenty (of work) to go around.”
Any favorite stories? “(It’s) when you get the ‘ah’ moment,” Fiandaca said. “They see their truck done. Cool. I’ve seen eyes light up, even if it’s a simple lift.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Don’t go (in) with a partner,” Spravka said. “That’s probably the best piece of advice. Anything can change. Money changes people.”
“Don’t ever forget where you came from,” Fiandaca said.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
