Family owned and run
14 March 1984, local lad David Little aged 20, now owner also of Ideal buildings Tauranga, in partnership with his parents built the BP service station where the Caltex station now operates in Welcome Bay.
Sixteen years later David bought his parents out from the business although he and his father continued to work together until 2004 when the BP petrol station became the Caltex it is today.
“My Dad and I worked together alright I guess, but my wife couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to socialise with him”, he laughed, “I’d just worked eight hours with him!”
David went on to acknowledge the 100s of kids and people who have worked at the gas station over the last 34 years. “I’ve seen local kids grow up and then have their own kids,” he said. “We used to have school kids working in the afternoon, and our kids also did their time, to learn to work for pocket money.”
Exit David, enter Deepak
Ten years ago, David bought another Caltex petrol station up in Otumoetai and last year sold it to Deepak Attri. Deepak is also founder and owner of Apple-certified FixITC.co.nz which now has four branches including one in Tauranga. When David decided to retire from Welcome Bay Caltex after 34 years on-site, Deepak jumped at the chance to take on David’s flagship for himself.
Deepak was quick to point out that he was born in the same year that David built the petrol station. Moving to Te Puke in 2009 from India, he was soon followed by his family. After four years as a software engineer, he moved to Hawkes Bay but missed the Bay of Plenty. Initially he started a small Apple-certified repair business in Hastings but eventually moving to Gisborne when he brought the Vodafone franchise for East Coast.
Buying the Caltex in Otumoetai last year gave his family an opportunity to move back and he was able to build a home for himself in town. The family is pleased to be back in Tauranga and the kids enjoy their local school.
Pop in and say hello to Deepak at Caltex, he would love to meet you and to hear any suggestions that you may have for the business.
