People We Meet: Bismark Loaisiga continues a family business

For Bismark Loaisiga, the auto repair shop at 1670 15th St. near Julian Avenue has been a family affair. 

His uncle opened America’s Body & Fender Inc., now Bismark Auto Body & Paint, 30 years ago when he arrived from Nicaragua. Loaisiga has been working there since he turned 17.

The family moved to the Mission in 2004. Loaisiga never left. 

“This is the hood where I came,” he said, shortly after greeting a passerby.

When his uncle retired two years ago, he left Loaisiga, now 33 years old, the shop. 

“I’m doing what I like,” he said. “I can stay here all day, and I feel happy and free.”

The Mission is an ideal place for a businessman whose first language is Spanish, he said. And, he added, he knows how to run a business here. He enjoys his customers and tries to give families who need it a break on repairs.

An employee works on a car on June 18 at Bismark Auto Body & Paint. (Photo by David Mamaril Horowitz)

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