DTC Auto Center, an auto shop for everyday vehicles and classic cars, opens in Liverpool Township

LIVERPOOL TWP. — DTC Auto Center is revving up to provide automotive services to residents in the Valley City area. Joe Arellano is the owner and founder of DTC. He said he fell in love with cars as a little kid, and it was always his dream to do something in the automotive industry. "It's been extremely challenging, but when it's something you like to do, it kind of makes things more enjoyable," he said. "There's still challenges to this day and challenges ahead, but we're excited to do what we know we are excellent at, which is repair vehicles." DTC is the final iteration of his initial vision of having a one-stop automotive shop where customers can bring in their daily vehicles and classic cars for service, Arellano said. The shop at 5893 Center Road Suite B in Liverpool Township can provide repairs, maintenance and some upgrades. "I would say our bread and butter is repairs and maintenance," he said. "Whether it's brake jobs, tires or anything your big chain repair facility would do, we do except we're locally owned and operated. We're a family business." A big component of automotive repair is gaining the trust of the customer, Arellano said. "We'll break it down," he said. "If you need a few items, we'll say maybe this is immediate, but these items can hold and just keep it in mind for the future. We don't like to use scare tactics here." Arellano and an apprentice work for the company, but he hopes to continue to grow his business. "We hope that in the future we can employ more people in the community and then turn around and continue to take on trade school students to develop their skills here," he said. "It is something we're really looking forward to, but there's a long way to go." The Northern Medina County Chamber Alliance held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for DTC on Thursday. Arellano is part of the chamber's business builders program, which he said was part of the learning process for developing DTC. "We're really looking forward to being a part of the community and helping the community with their essential services," he said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.