Don Malo may be the luckiest man in White Center. His commute takes him all of 30 seconds because he and his wife live just steps from where he works.

Don is the owner of Malo's Auto Body on 17th Southwest and has been part of the White Center community  for a long time. He's optimistic about the area and he and his manager Brad Truesdell both say that despite the economy, "Business is really good."

He supports Seattle in annexation of the area and sees the population growth as the most significant change during his time here.

Today they use an array of high tech equipment to restore cars to showroom quality. But they started far more humbly in a quonset hut on 16th Southwest. Don's father, Raymond Malo, founded Southside Automotive with some partners in 1948 and moved to the present location in 1952.

He and his dad both left the business for eight years and worked repairing busses for Metro but then came back in 1977. In 1982 it was renamed Malo's Auto Body.

The crew working there now "Are some of the best in the business," Don said, and " a lot of bigger shops are having a tough time making it but we're just the right size."  

He insists on using only the best quality materials and automotive paint.

He has always been a supporter of local little league teams and has the trophies and pictures to prove it. If you're old enough you may remember the businesses that used to be where his office is today.

What's the reason he's been successful?

"It's the 50 some years and taking care of people," he said.