What started off in a single makeshift bay in the back lot of a commercial building has grown into one of the most respected automotive customization shops in Arizona. Now spanning more than 7,000 square feet with more than 15 employees, Apex Customs announced this week the launch of a second state-of-the-art location in Tempe, Arizona. This new location will expand the company’s operation even further to include four new paint booths, 11 new bays and the largest Mustang dynamometer on the West Coast, capable of measuring vehicle power up to 3,000 horsepower at 250 mph.

Founded in 2014, Apex Customs was bootstrapped by two ambitious entrepreneurs and has grown into the only full-service one-stop automotive customization shop of its kind. The business provides car enthusiasts with every service they need under one roof, according to the company’s founders.

With an emphasis on engine performance and custom paint and body, the new shop will also offer car wraps, custom lighting, car audio, carbon fiber, custom fabrication, window tinting, wheels and tires, performance suspension, paint protection, powder coating, vehicle electronics, liquid wrap, vinyl graphics, hydrographics, and upholstery. The shop has the staff and equipment to do everything from a classic car restoration to a complete race car build from the ground up. The founders say they are proud of the fact that to date, Apex has never brought in a large investor or taken a bank loan to build the impressive operation they run today.

“We are excited and honored by the support that Arizona has given us to continue to grow,” said Tyler Copenhaver-Heath, co-founder and president at Apex Customs. “Thanks to the support of the City of Phoenix, our loyal customer base, and our hard-working staff, we simply outgrew our operations in Phoenix. We’re looking forward to adding our energy to the Tempe market and economy.”

Founded on a shoestring budget, a commitment to honesty and a drive to do whatever it took to make customers happy with their service, Copenhaver-Heath created Apex Customs. What he lacked in capital to start the capital-intensive business, he says he made up for in tenacity, thriftiness, 100-hour work weeks, negotiation skills, living on rice and beans and an unmatched ability to go above and beyond for his customers.

Tyler brought in his childhood friend Elliot Hutchens, co-founder and vice president, early in the operations to help grow the shop. With his background in business management, information technology and accounting, he has been instrumental in helping to navigate the nuances of operating the business side of Apex Customs.

“We’re never satisfied with mediocrity, which is why we already have plans in the works for additional shop and service expansion, extending our web presence with a global e-commerce platform, developing custom shop management software and manufacturing new parts to bring to market,” said Hutchens.

Copenhaver-Heath and Hutchens grew up together and formed a bond by dreaming big and working hard to make those dreams come true. Both came from meager means and started working full-time jobs at age 14 to support themselves. They have an unmatched work ethic and have always believed they could achieve anything they set their minds to.

“Our vision is to build the largest and most successful shop in the country. We want to set a new standard in the industry by being more than salesmen. Rather we want to partner with our customers and serve as advisers throughout the customization project. We are not interested in selling unnecessary services to boost our profit,” said Tyler.

To announce their new location and share more of their story, Apex Customs has compiled two short videos:

New Shop Launch: https://youtu.be/bdaiRWDFSzc.

Our Story: https://youtu.be/A9bffFwNyhk.

With the rollout of several new service offerings, Apex Customs plans to bring several jobs to the local market. From front office to the shop floor, candidates in the Tempe area can find open positions and apply on the website.

Located at 1522 W Todd Drive in Tempe, the entire team at Apex Customs extends an open invitation to any gearhead to come check out the shop.