By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
December 3, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — This year’s Christmas party will be a little extra special for Brocato’s Auto and Truck.

That’s because the Brogoto family is celebrating 80 years of family owned business. The family business has gone from a garage behind the family home to a dependable, neighborhood repair shop.

Nico Brogoto, son of owner Joseph Brogoto, said his great-grandfather and his brother, Phil and Mike Brogoto, began with an auto repair shop on Wabash Avenue. Then the two expanded onto Prospect with the addition of a hardware store and bar, Brocato’s Hardware and 606 Bar and Grill. After the property for those two businesses got bought, the two brothers went “full force into auto repair” and have been in the Northeast for the past 40 years.

“They bought this building [104 S. Belmont Blvd.] from Safeway and we’ve been here ever since,” Nico said.

Soon after, his great-grandfather passed the business onto his nephew, who made Nico’s dad as a partner in the business. Sooner or later, Nico said he’ll take over the business. But at 22-years-old, he believes he has some time before that happens.

“Couple generations of family owned,” Nico said.

The family was always into auto, but Nico said, there was a greater demand for it, especially with the industrial facilities in the Northeast. He said the supply and demand were there and his family couldn’t pass up the opportunities it presented.

“They made the move and have stayed pretty successful,” Nico said, adding there’s a second location along Chouteau Trafficway and Vivion Road.

Nico, who’s been in the auto repair business already for almost 15 years, said even though a lot of people in the Northeast have come and gone, they still get new customers. There are even plans for expansion.

“We’ll keep expanding for sure,” Nico said. “We’ll look into including more custom work and more out rigging trucks. For sure staying in the Northeast.”

The Christmas party, which has gone on for at least the past 25 years, is for the whole community as a way for the Brogoto family to show their appreciation to their customers and the businesses they deal with. The party is from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the shop in the Northeast and includes all you can eat spaghetti and meatballs.