Owners of Cruzing Auto inspire parents
Eloy Cruz owns Flying 8 Billiards in Mattawa. He offers seven tables and snacks and soft drinks. He knows the players come for the joy of the game because he does not offer alcoholic beverages.
The staff at Cruzing Auto Accessories & Audio in Mattawa, from right, includes co-owner Inez Cruz, co-owner Aaron Cruz and installation specialist Erik Plaza.
MATTAWA - When you walk into Cruzing Auto Accessories & Audio at 216 First St., you don't see all there is to the story of the owners.
Aaron and Inez Cruz have inspired Aaron's parents to operate businesses of their own. They been able to leave the hard farm worker life.
Aaron's father Eloy runs Flying 8 Billiards down First Street, about a block away. His mother Marcelina runs Regalos Mi Bebé, a gift store for babies in the other end of the billiard building.
Marcelina's store is much more than a baby gift store. There are gifts for all ages and decorations for the home.
Marcelina operates in a sparkling, colorful interior that was constructed just for her. It was at one time only a roof over a dirt floor.
Aaron operates the same business with which Aaron and Inez started a few years ago. They, along with Eloy Cruz Jr., bought the building at First and Ellis and operated the billiard hall.
It was when the Cruzes started their new business that Eloy Sr. took over and entered the world of business.
The senior Cruzes make periodic trips to southern California with their pickup and trailer to merchandise for Marcelina's store and some for Cruzing.
Aaron and Inez met in 1993 and married in 1996. Aaron was a full-time farm worker. He's still a foreman at Taylor Orchards. He works into the evening at the store after his day at Taylor.
Inez has worked some on farms, but she has been upward mobile. She has worked for the Washington State Migrant Council Head Start, Wahluke Schools, Big Bend Community College, the Catholic Church and Mattawa Medical Clinic.
Through all of these efforts, the Cruzes dreamed of having their own business. They chose auto accessories because Aaron likes that sort of thing. The Cruzes saved for their business by investing in properties.
"We're not the kind of people who save money," Aaron said. "We knew if we invested in properties, the money would be saved."
The Cruzes, including Eloy Jr. and his wife, own a 40-by-120 building at First and Ellis and a 65-by-120 building at First and Columbia.
The partnership rents the greater part of the 65-by-120 building to Valdez Tire Shop. That business was in place when they bought the building.
The Cruzes launched their new store in March. It opens a 11 a.m. with Inez and closes when Aaron and employee Erik Plaza have completed installations of accessories or sound systems.