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New owners of Waltham Auto Gallery promise community focus, council asks for repair agreements
Summary
Lehi and Ristoff Enterprise LLC sought council approval for an ownership change of the Class 2 license for Waltham Auto Gallery at 712 Moody Street; applicants described operational plans and were asked to provide a written repair arrangement with a local mechanic.
Lehi and Ristoff Enterprise LLC came before the Waltham City Council on May 12 seeking approval for an ownership transfer of the Class 2 motor vehicle license at the Waltham Auto Gallery, 712 Moody Street. Applicants Cristiano Freitas Risto and a business partner said they purchased the business and plan to operate locally, keeping the existing site and making modest customer-facing changes.
Applicant Cristiano Freitas Risto said the pair moved from Brazil to start the business and described plans to refresh signage, reconfigure car displays and operate primarily from a small office at the site. “We are gonna be hands on. That's the 2 guys that is gonna are gonna be in the community from now on,” Risto told councilors.
Councilor Kathy Ann Harris, whose ward includes the business, pressed applicants about site changes, hours of operation and whether customers or large transport trucks would block the bus stop or public ways. The applicants said they plan typical hours of roughly 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturdays and said they do not plan demolition or major construction.
Councilor Joseph Pilcava and others asked about warranty repairs and whether the dealer maintains access to repair facilities as required by state law. The applicants said they would partner with a neighboring business, Waltham Auto Service (owner Douglas Araujo), to handle maintenance but did not have a written contract at the hearing. Councilors requested documentation confirming the repair arrangement for the next committee hearing.
No opposition spoke at the hearing. The council’s License and Franchise Committee will take the matter up for further review and requested the written repair agreement and any additional documentation.
