Things are going to start to look a little different at 1439 W. F St., Oakdale, and Greg Rivera is ready for that change.
As the longtime owner of R&T Power Equipment, Rivera, while insistent he has not retired, did make the decision to downsize and leave the longtime location.
A job which started at the age of 17 morphed into a career which sustained the Oakdale business owner for 42 years. Known previously as Gene’s Saw-Mower Service when Rivera first joined the business, he purchased the establishment at the age of 27 in 1980 when Gene Turnbow passed away.
“I was pretty good at it after a while,” Rivera said of starting as a shop mechanic, while still attending Oakdale High School.
“I’ve always been somewhat handy, but you just learn as you go,” he continued. “You learn that you’ve got to get it right or you’re going to have to do it again and again and again. Then you’re not going to make any money.”
Initially purchasing the business with Turnbow’s son Wayne, R&T (Rivera and Turnbow) Power Equipment was founded. Close to a decade later, Rivera became the sole proprietor.
“Slowly started changing,” Rivera said of the business transition when he and Turnbow initially partnered together. “We went to a computer system after a few years. Started selling more stuff.”
At its peak Rivera managed about half a dozen employees as the business grew, offering more items for sale and repairing all outdoor equipment. Described as sales and service, R&T sold major high end power equipment, chainsaws, weed eaters, generators, water pumps and maintained a big business in repairs.
“I enjoy it. It didn’t show sometimes, but I did really enjoy fixing things and it turning out right,” Rivera confessed. “I still feel that way.”
A few years back, Rivera shared the business became busy enough on repairs alone to keep him in the shop six days a week.
“People trusted me enough, that they’ll bring me odd things and say, hey can you repair this,” he shared, noting the repairs, as well as getting to know the people and developing relationships, as something he really enjoyed.
Rivera, however, is adamant that he is, “Not retired … simply moving on.”
The longtime mechanic shared he will now work on the family ranch and do repairs by appointment. An idea which has been in the back of his mind for quite some time, but never really pushed it. Prior to the pandemic he was approached by an investment group. The sale was delayed by the pandemic, which was okay with Rivera. It became solidified in 2022.
And while he’s both ready and busy with his new work arrangement, he noted he will miss the location and the people “stopping in.”
“Still to this day people bring me wheelchairs or eyeglasses, because they know it’s kind of a central location,” Rivera, a longtime Oakdale Lions Club member, stated of folks dropping off donations for the club’s efforts. “I kind of like that trust that they had.”
The location made it convenient for his Lions work as well, with community members stopping in with money for the annual holiday Shopping Spree or to sign up to help.
“The community has been very good to me. It’s a great community. Blessed to live in this town,” he said. “How many people can say … Driving 10 minutes to go to work every day for 40-plus years, that’s kind of a blessing … Living in the best town in the world.”
Looking to the future, Rivera shared he was both pleased and excited for what’s next.
“Not working six days a week any longer, hopefully,” he said. “I’ve got more work than I can handle right now and that’s good.”
However, the start of what was once a part-time job which became a career will live long in his heart.
“I hated the smell of the oil,” he said of when he first started, with no consideration that he would someday be the owner. “I guess I got used to it. It just turned into part of my life.”
Those interested in continuing to use Rivera’s services may contact him by phone at 209-764-8899.
