Today we’d like to introduce you to Javier Jaimes Jr..
Hi Javier , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story begins with my parents, Javier Jaimes Sr. and my mom, Sara Jaimes. They immigrated from Mexico, and I grew up in South Austin, in the Emerald Forest neighborhood. Some of my earliest memories are of both of them working hard, finding opportunities, and teaching us by example how to build something for our family.
My dad worked at a restaurant at a resort in Lakeway and sold cars on the side. I remember him buying the newspaper, looking through the classified ads, and taking us all over Austin to find vehicles he could buy and resell. He would do the maintenance, clean them thoroughly, and take pride in making them look like new.
Meanwhile, my mom was always finding something to make or sell to bring in extra income. We would help her make shirts and other merchandise to sell around the neighborhoods. She was creative and resourceful, always coming up with something we could work on together. Between my dad’s cars and my mom’s projects, we always stayed busy.
Both of my parents were always hustling, doing whatever they could to move our family forward. Before I understood anything about running a business, they were teaching us the value of hard work, creativity, and taking pride in what you do. Working alongside them also taught me that building a family business starts with everyone contributing.
As I got older, my dad partnered with one of my uncles in the car business. I started working as a waiter at 17, saved my money, and began buying and selling a few cars myself through my uncle’s dealership. Little by little, something I had grown up around became something I wanted to build a future in.
Eventually, my dad and I started talking about getting our own dealer license. When it came time to choose a name, we shared the same first name—Javier—so Javi’s Auto Sales felt right. In September 2002, we received our dealer license and officially began operating under that name.
Twenty-four years later, we are still a family business, both in who runs it and in how we treat people. My father, my mother, Sara Jaimes Dominguez, my brother, Roberto Jaimes, and I have all been part of that story. Today, my sons, Angel Jaimes and Javier Jaimes III, help around the shop as well. Our technician, Mariano, has also become family to us. I think of him as a younger brother.
One lesson my dad taught us has stayed with me from the beginning: prepare every vehicle as if you were going to keep it for yourself or give it to someone in your family. If it needs tires, brakes, an oil change, or other repairs, take care of those things before offering it for sale. A vehicle is a major investment for our customers, especially when they are financing it. We want them to feel good about that investment and about the people they bought it from.
That same approach carries into our auto repair work. We believe in explaining what a vehicle needs, being honest about what is urgent, and letting customers know when something can wait. Making a living matters, but so does respecting the person who is trusting us with their money and transportation. We want people to feel comfortable asking questions and confident that our recommendations have a purpose.
We still have customers who have been buying vehicles from us since our early years. Seeing them return, bring their families, and recommend us to others is one of the most meaningful parts of this business. We don’t want a sale to be the end of a relationship.
Looking back, I’m thankful to God, my parents, our team, and every customer who has helped us reach this point. What started with my dad searching newspaper ads has grown into a business that now involves three generations of our family. The way we find cars has changed, but the lesson behind it hasn’t: take pride in your work, treat people well, and give them a reason to trust you.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like any business, we’ve had good years, difficult stretches, and moments that tested us. One of the most valuable lessons my parents taught me was that strong sales don’t mean you can spend carelessly. A few great months can help carry you through the slower ones, so you have to look at the whole year and prepare for both.
COVID was one of our biggest challenges. We closed for about a month, customers weren’t coming out, and both my father and other family members got sick. We got very ill for a couple of weeks. It was a difficult time because we were dealing with our health while also worrying about our family and the business we had worked so hard to build.
Thankfully, we made it through together. Over the years, changes in the economy have also affected business. Those experiences have taught us to be careful with our resources, stay flexible, and appreciate the busy days without taking them for granted.
You can’t give up every time business slows down. You have to stay positive, keep showing up, and continue taking care of your customers. We can’t predict every challenge, but we can prepare for difficult times and support each other when they come. That’s been a big part of how our family has kept this business going.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Javi’s Auto Sales, we sell vehicles and provide auto repair services, including diagnostics, engine and transmission repairs, brakes, suspension, air conditioning, and routine maintenance. Whether someone needs a vehicle or help keeping their current one on the road, we want to be a place they feel comfortable coming to.
What we want to be known for is honesty, fair pricing, and personal attention. We take time to explain what a vehicle needs, what should be addressed right away, and what can wait. We understand that customers have budgets and depend on their vehicles, so we help them make informed decisions without pressuring them into unnecessary repairs.
That same care goes into the vehicles we sell. My father taught us to prepare each one as if it were going to belong to us or someone in our family. We know a vehicle is a major investment, and we take that responsibility seriously.
What sets us apart is the relationship we build with people. We’re a family business, and we want customers to feel welcome, ask questions, and know who they’re dealing with. Some have been coming to us since we opened in 2002. Their continued trust—and seeing them bring their children, relatives, and friends—is what I’m most proud of.
I’m also proud to work alongside my parents, my brother, my sons, and a team that feels like family. Being able to carry forward what my parents started, while teaching the next generation the values they taught me, means a lot. After 24 years, success to us is having a business that supports our family and serves our community with integrity.
How do you define success?
For me, success means being able to provide for my family, do honest work, and build something all five of my children can be proud of. Making money is part of running a business, but I also want to feel good about how we earned it.
My two older sons work alongside me, and having the opportunity to teach them what my parents taught me means a lot. I also have two daughters and a three-year-old son. Whether my children choose to join the business or follow their own paths, I want them to carry the values of hard work, honesty, and treating people with respect.
When customers return, recommend us to their families, or tell us they trust us, that’s another measure of success. Their trust helps us continue what my parents started.
With God’s help, success is watching our whole family grow, being present for my wife and my children, and building a business that serves our community well. I want my children to be proud of both the work we do and the people we are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://javisautosales.shop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/javisautosales/
