When he was eight years old, Mike Chilando gathered some supplies from around the house, assembled a shoeshine box and went door-to-door in his West Nashville neighborhood, shining shoes for a quarter. He then took his services to a barber shop. Then another. And another.
That was 70 years ago, and he’s been going strong ever since. After graduating from Father Ryan High School, Chilando briefly attended UT-Nashville before deciding to leave school to go into business. His first venture: owning a liquor store. He also served six years as a reserve in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Chilando, who calls himself “an entrepreneur by trade,” has owned a dozen businesses as diverse as an antique mall, a used car rental agency and an unfinished furniture dealership called Naked Furniture.
“Working is the same thing to me as traveling is to others,” he says. “I love building things up and watching people become gratified by having good jobs.”
Later in his career Chilando gained a foothold in the automobile service sector by becoming a Midas franchisee and establishing some of the brand’s highest-performing shops. At its peak, he owned eight Midas stores across Middle Tennessee, including one on Charlotte Pike that he still owns, and the former Belle Meade location that became the No. 6 Midas shop in the world.
Chilando exited that location a few years ago when he was unable to purchase the property outright. At that point, he was content to continue with the Charlotte Pike location, until a fateful afternoon in October 2023.
“I was at the car wash on Highway 70 in Bellevue and I saw across the street that the old Captain D’s restaurant had been boarded up,” he recalls. “I thought, ‘what a location for a new Midas!’”
He made a few calls and closed on the real estate in the summer of 2024. Construction of the new Midas location began shortly thereafter but the project quickly hit a snag.
“As they were clearing the lot and digging for footers, they found the remnants of an old convenience store underneath where the restaurant had stood,” Chilando says. “Instead of hauling it off 42 years ago, they just pounded it into the ground.”
The result was a month-long delay and corresponding cost overruns. “I bought one building and got another one for free,” he quips. “It was the worst BOGO deal of my life.”
Eventually a new building emerged and the sparkling 7-bay Midas at 7075 Old Harding Pike opened for business on November 4, 2025. Not only that, Chilando brought on board some of the key team members who helped elevate the Belle Meade Midas to its lofty perch. Among them are 20-year veteran general manager Keith Boldus and senior service advisor Doug Holt. New to the team is store manager Mike Safstrom who previously managed eight Advance Auto Parts stores.
The store stocks all major tire brands but it’s also a one-stop shop for your vehicle’s routine and major maintenance. With their Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI) the Midas team can provide customers with a real-time, closeup view of the current condition of their vehicle’s systems. “We take a tablet to every car, write the estimate and text or email it along with a video so that the customer can see exactly what needs to be repaired,” Chilando says.
Americans love their cars and trucks and Chilando says one of the best ways to keep them in top condition is to keep them properly maintained. That means taking your car or truck to a mechanic or garage you trust for all routine oil changes tire rotations.
“Take 20 minutes and read about your vehicle’s service schedule,” Chilando advises. “The warranty specifies that you do not have to take it to the dealer and we’re right here in Bellevue so there’s no place more convenient or better equipped. In the long run cars will cost so much less to operate if you spend a little money on the front end.”
Chilando notes that Midas has over 1,200 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. So, if you’re out of town and your vehicle needs service, any of those locations will have access to your car’s service records at the new Bellevue location.
As a life-long Bellevue resident, Chilando is pleased to bring the new store to the community. He also gives back in numerous ways, specifically when it comes to helping young people.
Recently the new Bellevue Midas sponsored basketball tournaments at Lawson High School. Chilando also supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The Hope Clinic for Women, which holds a special place in his heart. “I sponsor events for them and give to them generously,” he says. “They bring babies to life so that they can be adopted. They take care of the mother throughout her pregnancy and pay for doctors and the adoption. If it has to do with saving a child, I want to be involved.”
That’s because every child has promise, hopes and dreams. Just like a particular 8-year-old boy had not so long ago.
Located next to Lee Company at 7075 Old Harding Pike, the Nashville-Bellevue Midas service center is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. For a complete list of services, or to schedule an appointment, visit Midas.com.
"In the long run cars will cost so much less to operate if you spend a little money on the front end.”