From father to son to grandson: A Meineke family history
The Borruso family has watched the Meineke brand and automotive world evolve as they’ve operated a franchise in South Plainfield, New Jersey across three generations.
Sam Meineke founded Meineke Discount Muffler in San Antonio, Texas in 1972. Franchises started popping up a year later. In 1977, Nicholas Borruso and his wife Marie opened their first Meineke franchise in New Jersey.
“My husband was always an entrepreneur,” Marie remembered. “He wanted to give his children a good life and was passionate about what he did.”
Nicholas went on to eventually open five locations across north-central New Jersey, including two locations that he built from the ground up. Throughout this time, he and Marie raised their three boys around the shops. Looking back, she has many fond memories of her family working together and participating in company trips where they had the opportunity to meet and connect with other franchise owners and their families.
“Meineke was so good to us,” she said.
Nicholas and Marie had no idea that what they started in the 70’s would withstand the test of time and still be thriving - two generations later.
Same family, different owner
Nicholas and Marie’s son, Mike began working at the Meineke shops from a young age.
“I started out just sweeping the floors after school and learning the ropes,” said Mike.
He continued working at the shop and developed his technical skills, alongside his wife Lisa Borruso, who helped in the office even before they were married. But then, the opportunity presented itself to transition from employee to owner. Nicholas made Mike and Lisa an offer “they couldn’t refuse.”
In 1990, Mike and Lisa bought one of the franchises located in South Plainfield, New Jersey.
“There were some growing pains in the beginning,” Lisa joked. “Being married to someone and working with them can be tough, so we had to set boundaries. I told him the office is my area, and the shop was his area.”
They worked through the learning curves together and became one of the top franchises in the Northeast. It’s a time that both Mike and Lisa remember fondly as they raised their own family and built the business.
At that time, Meineke only offered muffler services. The company transitioned to a full-service car care center in 1999 and is now known as one of the most trusted automotive repair centers across the country.
Through it all, the Borruso family has remained.
“Change is inevitable,” Mike said. “But what’s always impressed me about Meineke has been their ability to change with the times and be a market leader in the automotive industry.”
Being a part of the Meineke community has brought Mike and his family many memories over the years, including company trips to Hawaii, Italy, and France and having the opportunity to meet Sam Meineke at the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas in 2011.
Now, they’re able to pass the opportunity along to the next generation of their family.
Preparing for the next generation
Like his father, Mike Borruso Jr. grew up around the Meineke shop.
“For as long as I can remember, I was always there sweeping up the floors or doing oil changes.” Mike Jr. said. “It’s where I learned everything I know about the automotive industry. My dad was really hands-on and taught me a lot.”
Lisa could see the spark and passion in her son from a young age: “He’s shown an interest since he was 10 years old. I had a feeling that when it was time, he would just take the reins.”
For Mike Jr., his internship experiences in college while studying business solidified his desire to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.
“I knew I didn’t want to go the corporate America route. I wanted to be hands on, be my own boss,” Mike Jr. said. “I saw how successful my grandfather and father were, and I wanted to follow that.”
That time came about twelve years ago when Mike Sr. decided it was time to take a step back.
“All the changes in the industry have been amazing, but I realized that the best way to keep the shop up-to-date with the times was for me to let my son take over,” he explained.
In 2012, Mike Jr. was fresh out of college and ready to take on the responsibility of keeping the family business alive.
“My husband was so proud when our grandson decided to join the business,” Marie remembered. “I’m so glad he got to see that before he passed. It really made him happy.”
Life at the shop today
The same franchise location that Nicholas and Marie opened 30+ years ago is still standing – and thriving with Mike Jr. now in the driver’s seat.
“When our son took over, he took it to a whole new level,” said Lisa.
Mike Jr. has spent the last twelve years building up a steady and reliable crew and has become one of the top franchises in sales for the entire northeast region.
“We have a great team here,” Mike Jr. said. “I feel very fortunate for that. After having kids, I’ve started taking a day off during the week to spend time with family, and it’s only because of my team that I feel comfortable doing so. I know they’re able to keep things running smoothly.”
Part of that team who keeps things moving is his mother. Just as she did for her husband, Lisa still helps out with administrative, behind-the-scenes tasks such as payroll, taxes, and insurance. Another family member who works in the family business part-time is their other son Nick Borruso. He helps his brother a day or two a week running the front office or jumping in wherever he is needed.
Beyond building a great team, Mike Jr. has also focused his efforts on engaging with the local community of South Plainfield, including sponsoring local baseball teams and doing fleet work for small businesses.
“What you put into the business is what you’ll get out of it,” Mike Jr. said. “Meineke will give you the tools to build a house, but you have to physically put it together.”
The house that the Borruso family has built over the last three decades is a strong one; it’s grown and adapted with the times to become what it is today.
As Mike Jr. says, “We’re not an overnight success story. It’s been little steps over 30+ years to get where we are.”