Owner: Fernando Esquivel
Shop: On the Spot Auto
Location: Alsip, Illinois
Don't worry, you're not seeing double. There really are two almost identical Cornwell tool boxes taking up 14 feet of wall space at On the Spot Auto in Alsip, Illinois.
Besides the color, the boxes are the same, even down to the tools and organization inside them.
"We try to keep both of them equal," says technician and shop co-owner Fernando Esquivel. "For example, if you were here right now you would see that the top drawer has pretty much the exact same tools as the other toolbox next to it."
Both boxes, one belonging to Esquivel's brother and shop co-owner Guilo Jr., were purchased within six months of each other two years ago.
Of all the toolboxes the brothers have owned, which is nearly all the major brands according to Esquivel, these 84" long, 71" tall Cornwell boxes are their favorite.
"These tool boxes, in my own opinion, they are the best out there," Esquivel says. "Reason being is the way the drawers are made on these toolboxes. When Tim [Theodossopoulos], who's our [Cornwell Tools dealer] showed us this toolbox, we just literally fell in love with it. They're great. They're made really well, strong, and I can't say enough good things about these toolboxes."
The 12 drawers on the toolbox extend the full 30" depth of the box, and Esquivel says the drawer size is a stand-out feature. Other boxes he has owned feature more shallow and square-shaped drawers that don't offer much function in his day-to-day routine.
Both boxes are organized the same, with the top drawer holding sockets, the next wrenches, then pliers, pick and tire bars and finally, impact guns and heavier tools are kept in the largest bottom drawer.
The top work surfaces are kept mostly clear, besides work laptops, some battery chargers and the Snap-on Verus and Ethos scan tools. And, that's pretty much the standard at the family-owned shop: clean and clear.
On the Spot Auto cleans the shop spotless at the end of the day, even taking 30 minutes to wipe down their tools. Esquivel says their customers appreciate the effort.
"You can pretty much eat off the floor, that's our thing," Esquivel says.
The Esquivel brothers, Fernando and Guilo Jr., run the shop and work with their father Guilo Sr. and Guilo Jr.'s son, Guilo III, who recently graduated from technical college. With three generations of technicians under one roof, it's no surprise the toolbox setup filled up quick.
Within a year, they plan to add a third box for Guilo III. Matching of course.
"We're not planning on stopping being mechanics for a while, so it's a great investment," Esquivel says. "We have more room for another one, and that's what we're hoping for by the end of the year. And we have a lot of tools, too."
