Alan Guevara, owner and founder of Vara Upholstery
Alan Guevara, owner and founder of Vara Upholstery, opened his own shop after he quickly learned that the boat he had saved all his money to buy, needed a full interior, but he simply could not afford it. He apprenticed at a local shop and learned as much as he could, while not only the trade, but also great customer relations from the owner of the shop he chose to apprentice for.
He learned how to run a sewing machine quickly and became the best machine operator in the shop within 6 months. Shortly after that he ventured out on his own, operating out of his garage for 2years, but quickly realized he could not operate a professional business, working on expensive boats, out of a garage… so he moved into an actual shop and Vara Upholstery was created.
Several years later, his name and his fully customized, 1989 Chaparral boat (Stitch), his pride and joy, became very well known in the boating community of his hometown of Woodbridge, Virginia.
In 2017, Alan decided that the place he constantly visited and liked to call his “home away from home”, St Pete, Florida, was bound to be his next forever home, and in 2019 the move was made.
Now, he begins his new journey, bringing his same style of charisma and devotion to his work and customers down to the sunshine state.
Stitch
