Gus Machado sits behind a large wooden desk that was left behind, along with nearly all the other furniture in the office, by the former owner of the dealership on 49th street in Hialeah when Machado acquired it in the mid 80’s. The walls are lined with vinyl wood paneling, reminiscent of 1960’s, and tips off those who enter just how long Machado has been in business.
Machado says his first investment was $50 on a 1934 dodge, which he bought because it was made the same year he was born, and after one ride around the parking lot of his high school, the black dodge promptly died. After five years of working at the Caterpillar Tractor company in Joliet, Illinois, Machado along with his wife and three children, migrated to Miami because of the weather, which Machado said reminded him of Cuba. He combed through newspapers to find a gas station for sale, which he intended to buy and begin his own business for the simple pursuit of his passion – cars.
“I loved cars and wanted to do repairs on them since I was a young kid,” said Machado. “Buying the gas station worked out well for me because I was able to learn how to do small repairs, tune-ups, grease jobs and more while I ran my business.”
The gas station he purchased on North Miami Avenue and 17th Street went well for him until the old lift that held up a 1951 Chevrolet broke and the car fell upside down, damaging the roof which caved in. No one was hurt but it led to Machado’s first car sale - his own.
“I had a 1949 Chevy convertible and I tried to trade with the owner of the damaged car. We settled on a price and he drove away in my convertible and I repaired the roof of the other car.”
After his accident turned opportunity, Machado purchased damaged cars to repair and sell from the back of his gas station. He did this until he partnered with Alan Parker, who Machado called “a God” for car dealerships at the time, and created the floor plan for his first dealership. “The rest as they say is history,” said Machado.
Through trial and error, Machado built his empire and in addition to his name on the signs of dealerships and a shopping plaza in Hialeah he once owned, Machado’s name is also visible at St. Thomas University’s Gus Machado School of Business.
Machado donated $5 million to the school and cites his history in business as well as a belief in the vision of the school’s president, Monsignor Franklyn M. Casales, as his explanation for the hefty sum.
“My entire life I have been very lucky. I have been able to achieve what many people without capital have not been able to, and it is important to give back. Ever since I was born I’ve been sharing things, a tradition made by my grandfather,” said Machado. “Business school is so important. Students have to learn what business leaders already know, they have to catch up and learn the structure of business and how to conduct themselves and then build on that.”
Machado and his wife of 16 years, Lilliam, are also deeply involved in the American Cancer Society which honored the couple this year for their work in the organization and their multiple contributions. Lilliam, who joined as a volunteer after a young member of her family was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and recovered, is instrumental in the organization’s efforts to promote prevention, education, and raise funds for research.
“We were honored at the gala and I was appreciative but I told them I don’t need to be honored,” said Lilliam. “I love what I do. Gus has a heart the size of this room and whatever we do, we do it with joy and because God has blessed us tremendously. We haven’t found a cure yet, but we are celebrating more birthdays and this is because of advancement in drugs for treatment developed with grants from the American Cancer Society.”
Machado has photos along the walls of his office of himself and several presidents. He is what some have called an immigrant success story and he and his wife intend to continue giving back to the community of Hialeah and Miami Lakes, where they reside, for years to come.