Lisle's Grease Monkey Accelerates to New Heights

Filipe “Phil” Scatena, a passionate entrepreneur and automotive enthusiast, is celebrating six years of success as a Grease Monkey franchisee after turning a series of struggling locations into thriving businesses across the Chicagoland area.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, and raised across several cities including Rio de Janeiro and Uberlândia, Phil’s resilience and adaptability were forged early. After moving to the U.S. with a strong background in finance and a lifelong love for cars, Phil sought a new challenge - one that aligned with his passions and entrepreneurial vision.

In 2019, Phil and his wife took a leap of faith, purchasing four underperforming Grease Monkey locations near Chicago. With no prior experience in the automotive maintenance industry, the couple relied on their work ethic, business acumen, and commitment to service to turn things around.

“Problem-solving has always been a key strength of mine," said Scatena. “From day one, I dove in, managing operations 7 days a week, learning the business inside and out, and working closely with each location’s team to create real, lasting change."

Each location faced unique challenges from untrained staff and poorly maintained facilities to pricing strategies that hurt the bottom line. Phil made bold decisions, such as eliminating unprofitable promotions, revamping training programs, hiring new teams, and forging partnerships with technical schools to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers.

As a result, net sales skyrocketed across multiple locations. His location in Round Lake Beach (store#166) became one of the most profitable stores after eliminating an unsustainable $19.99 oil change that was drawing low-spending customers and clogging service bays. His second location in Round Lake Beach (store #174) more than doubled both its car count and ticket average following a complete team overhaul and a renewed focus on customer service. Meanwhile, his Lisle location (store #140), once severely understaffed and operating without a manager, experienced a more than 400% growth in net sales after Phil partnered with the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to recruit and train new talent.

Phil’s ability to analyze operations, implement evolving processes, and elevate customer service transformed the stores into high-performing operations. His success even led Grease Monkey to entrust him with an additional underperforming location located in Sycamore (store #178) – at no cost - due to his proven leadership.

Fast forward, and two of Phil’s stores (both located in Round Lake Beach) generated more than $1 million in sales in 2024 – which is more than double their revenue at acquisition. His journey from first-time franchisee to one of the brand’s standout success stories has been nothing short of remarkable.

“Grease Monkey gave me the platform, but my team and I put in the work,” said Scatena. “We’re not just changing oil. We’re building trust, creating jobs, and driving value in our communities. I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished.”

Looking ahead, Phil has ambitious plans to continue expanding his business footprint, including diversifying services to meet the evolving needs of hybrid and electric vehicles. With a sharp eye on the future, Phil is positioning his stores to serve the next generation of vehicle owners while remaining rooted in the core values that brought him success: integrity, innovation, and a drive to always improve.

Grease Monkey in Lisle is located at 3295 Ogden Ave. The phone number is 630-857-3466.