Pulido Plans Trip to Mexico to Offer Prayer of Thanks : 200 Help Ace Muffler Shop Owner Celebrate Victory Over City

His own faith and the support of so many friends enabled him to win against long odds last week, Miguel Armando Pulido said, and that’s what he wanted to talk about Saturday.

“My heart is happy and I owe it to God first, and then to my friends,” said the Mexican immigrant owner of Ace Muffler in Santa Ana, as about 200 well-wishers gathered around him at a celebration of his surprising victory over the City Council last week.

The city had sought to force Pulido to move his shop from its downtown location to accommodate a new shopping center, but public protest finally forced officials to reconsider.

End of Crusade

Pulido’s family, friends and supporters--including two City Council members who showed up for the party--got together at the shop, at 401 East 1st St., to sip beer, munch on Mexican food and listen to a mariachi band. It was their way of concluding a long crusade.

Saturday’s celebration was especially pleasing to Pulido, 60, whose latest fight was merely his most recent encounter with the City of Santa Ana.

First, there was 1981, when the city decided that 1st Street needed to be widened. So for $50,000, the city bought a 30-foot strip of the Ace property, and Pulido had to rebuild his shop farther back from the street.

Then, last June, the city contracted with Urbatec, a Santa Monica developer, to build a shopping center in downtown Santa Ana on property that included the Ace Muffler location. Urbatec decided the muffler shop would be incompatible with the businesses it planned for the site and threatened to sue the city if its plan had to be scrapped.

Condemnation Started

Last month, the City Council voted 6-1 to begin proceedings against Pulido and his family to obtain the land through condemnation. But the family was able to muster enormous public support, and in last Tuesday night’s meeting, the council reversed its decision.

Pulido said he was “shocked” at the turn of events.

“I had faith in God that I would eventually win, but this was a big surprise,” he said.

City officials are now trying to work with Urbatec to avoid a lawsuit. If the developer sues, it could cost the city as much as $3 million to go ahead with the plans for the shopping center, which is part of a downtown renovation project.

Before the latest City Council vote on Ace Muffler, Pulido had made a promesa (promise) that he would visit a Catholic shrine in Mexico to show his gratitude if he won the battle.

Will Pray at Shrine

Today, Pulido and one of his four sons, Miguel Angel, will travel by bus to a small town near Guadalajara, where they will pray before the shrine of the Virgen de los Lagos (Lady of the Lakes) for two days. Pulido said he has passed by the shrine many times during his frequent travels to Mexico.

Although he was enjoying a beer Saturday, Pulido said he will fast during the two-day bus ride to the shrine “to make more of a personal sacrifice.”

“I wanted to fulfill my promise before we had this party, but the boys went ahead and planned it for today to show our friends our appreciation,” he said.

A friendly and humble man who takes care not to forget his poor beginnings in Mexico, Pulido paid special tribute to those who stood behind him.

“If I didn’t have so many friends who supported me, I would have lost. They helped me. I had much more than 100% help and support from them,” Pulido said.

Wants to Start School

Pulido said he makes anonymous monthly donations to help the poor both here and in Mexico, and now he would like to do something special. He is thinking of establishing a school in Mexico.

“I think someday I would like to build a school in Mexico to help the poor people,” he said. “Probably a year from now, I can start on that project. It would be easier for me, now that I’m well known.”

Those are his long-range plans. But Pulido first must fulfill his promise to God and the virgin saint in Mexico.

“I will be very glad to go back to my life after all of this,” he said.