EAST LONGMEADOW — As owner and sole proprietor of Eastside Auto Works, William Diederich wears many automotive hats.

“I’m a one-man band on the Eastside,” Diederich said.

When asked what he hoped to achieve at Eastside, Diederich said his goal was to stand out to East Longmeadow motorists.

“Within the first year, I would like to see Eastside Auto Works establish itself as not only a repair shop that does great work, but also a member of the community that you can trust. »

The entrepreneur in his thirties opened his store last month. He said he had dreamed of this opportunity since he was a child.

Diederich is grateful to those who helped him find his way in the automotive world, as well as to his former employers who encouraged him to make his motorized dreams a reality.

“In a way, East Longmeadow chose me,” Diederich said. “My location on Dorset Street was formerly known as Bretta Automotive, owned by Ron Bretta. Ron has been a mechanic for over 60 years and is now 78 – still heartbreaking. He was looking for the right candidate to take over his repair shop and continue serving the community, as he has for 50 years. Shortly after meeting, we saw how similar we were and knew it was the right decision.

Back when Diederich got his first car, he never had the means to actually repair it, so he had to repair it himself over and over again.

“I had fun every time I worked on it,” said Diederich, who owns and drives a 1987 Toyota MR2. “After that, I was hooked.”

Diederich attended Springfield Technical Community College and earned his degree in automotive technology. It was there that he had the opportunity to learn from some of the best mechanics he had ever met, he said.

He got his first job as a mechanic about 10 years ago, which brought him to where he is today.

“I chose to open my own shop because I believe in establishing a connection between the technician and the customer,” he said. “I think today’s vehicle owners often do bad business and as a profession we should hold ourselves to higher standards of work.”

Being the owner, founder, and sole technician at Eastside Auto Works allows him to connect with his customers and their automotive issues every day. Diederich appreciates this above all.

“Investing in these one-on-one relationships helps me understand their needs and develop trust,” Diederich said.

Diederich credits area experts, friends and family for helping him get started.

“My father taught me from day one that things were worth fixing,” Diederich said. “Paul Nardi of Nardi Family Dentistry introduced me to Mr. Bretta. Not only does he share my passion for cars, but he is also excited for me to get into this business. Finally, Chloe Cincotta from New Valley Bank. She is a longtime friend who has not only been a trusted consultant, but also a true cheerleader since my community college days.

Eastside Auto Works is located at 20 Dorset St. To learn more about the business, visit eastsideauto.works or call 413-733-1030.