Elspeth Chalmers –
For nearly five decades, a family-run auto shop has quietly built a reputation for quality service in Corktown. Grounded in long-standing relationships, the business will mark its 50th anniversary in 2028.
Founded in 1978, Central Import Automotive is one of the oldest family-operated businesses in the neighbourhood. Michael Kapil, from the family’s second generation, joined in 1998 and is approaching 30 years in the business.
An East Ender who grew up in Toronto’s east side and now lives in East York, Kapil has deep roots in the community. He stepped into the family business to support his parents, who had built the shop from the ground up after immigrating to Canada from India in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
“I grew up in the business,” he said. “My father wasn’t able to take a vacation for almost 20 years. I knew the only way he’d be able to take time off was if I came into the shop.”
Over the years, Corktown has evolved from a largely industrial area into a rapidly intensifying downtown neighbourhood, marked by new residential developments and shifting demographics. Through it all, Central Import has remained, serving both long-time residents and people moving into the core.
Central Import specializes in European vehicles, including BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Porsche, as well as Mini and Land Rover. Over the decades, the shop has invested in current automotive technology, prioritizing both equipment and training. Staff are regularly sent for training across North America, from Chicago to Las Vegas, to keep pace with advancements in diagnostics and vehicle systems.
“We make a commitment to our clients that we have the right tools, the right training and the right equipment to service their vehicles,” Kapil said.
While the technical side of the business has evolved, the core of the work has not changed.
“The vehicles are always interesting, but the relationships are what really matter,” Kapil said. “That’s what makes me want to get up in the morning.”
Those relationships often span generations. Customers who first visited the shop decades ago now return with their children and grandchildren, a rare continuity in a fast-changing city.
“We’ve had clients come in whose grandparents worked with my father, and now their grandchildren are coming to us,” Kapil said.
His father Sam, now retired, still visits the shop regularly, often reconnecting with long-time customers who remember him from the early years. For newer staff, those interactions offer a glimpse into the shop’s history.
“You see the joy when they recognize each other,” Kapil said. “That’s something you don’t see as often anymore. What makes a neighbourhood unique is those small, family-run places that have been there for decades.”
That philosophy extends beyond the automotive shop. Kapil also operates Bindia Indian Bistro in the St. Lawrence Market area, a restaurant named after his daughter and run alongside his wife and extended family. The space features design elements tied to family history.
Like the shop, the restaurant reflects a hands-on approach and a long-term investment in the community. For Kapil, both ventures are rooted in the same idea: building something lasting, grounded in relationships and supported by the people around it.
The third generation is already stepping up at Central Import Automotive. With Kapil’s nephew recently joining the business, he’s optimistic about its future.
“I’m confident we’ll be here for another 30 or 40 years.”
