In 1959, no one would believe that Sunrise Poultry and Eggs on Elgin Avenue in Houston, Texas would start selling tail pipes and exhaust pipes for vehicles instead of processing chickens and selling eggs. In 2009, no one can believe that the first place in Houston to sell performance dual exhaust kits for automobiles started out as a chicken processing warehouse. Southwestern Muffler started as an independent muffler shop in Houston 50 years ago with a goal of providing superior service and quality products to all of their customers.

L.C. "Gus" Gostecnik bought his first trailer load of tailpipes and exhaust pipes in 1959 and sold them to local parts houses. Soon after his initial purchase, Uncle Gus moved into a warehouse and expanded the business.

With the purchase of a pipe bending machine, it was inside this warehouse that Southwestern Muffler began making Houston's first performance dual exhaust kits. He later bought a couple of auto lifts from a man in New Orleans, Louisiana, and started putting mufflers and pipes on cars and trucks. It was in the back of that warehouse 50 years ago that the idea for Southwestern Muffler and Brake Works was "hatched."

Lynn "Goose" Gostecnik purchased the company in 1977. He continues the family tradition of on-site ownership, and can be seen daily either swapping stories or sipping a cup of coffee with the customers. "I'm in both stores everyday," Gostecnik says. This is something you will not receive at any franchise or the larger chains.

We're proud of our independence. Uncle Gus's original idea of giving the customer convenient, immediate, one-day service using quality parts still exists.