John Stiff seldom has a day off at his job and that’s only when it rains or it is very cold.
On days like that, he often stops by Binny’s Beverage Depot in Elmwood Park to buy some cigars and find a relaxing place to smoke them. On any other day when the weather is clear and warm, he’s busy washing cars.
For the past four years Stiff, 50, has managed Luxury Touch Car Wash in Maywood, which washes cars by hand and is open seven days a week.
Q: What’s the difference between an automatic car wash versus a hand car wash?
A: As far as a hand car wash, you’re more precise on everything you do. A machine can’t do what a person can do as far as vacuuming out the car and cleaning the windows. We’re precise on everything we do.
Q: What do you like about your job?
A: I just love dealing with cars, period. I’m just a car freak. I like hot rods, old school and new school cars.
Q: What’s the secret to being a good manager?
A: It’s not too much of a secret, but picking the right guys to do the right work. I try to make them understand me and when they do they’ll understand what I expect and I expect them to do a good job and stand by our name.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Not much if it doesn’t have anything to do with cars or smoking cigars. I always enjoy a good cigar.
—David Pollard, Pioneer Press
Shout Out is a weekly feature where we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.
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