Owner, David Leon has been doing auto upholstery since he was 14 years old. A job, he says he "loves to do." David was just a teenager when he was hired to work at "Filmo's Auto Upholstery" shop near Tampa in 1991. Working for a family friend, he had no other option but to earn his keep. It turned out David was a natural, he picked up the trade quickly.
At the age of 17 David's family moved to the east coast, West Palm Beach. There he found work doing the same, as well as marine upholstery. His previous employers described him as "a great kid," "hard working," and "always did his best." David was a sponge, learning what he could, working with great people in the industry. During these years his creative side took flight, and like most, his first custom job was his own car, a 1989 300ZX in 1995. At the age of 18 years old, David knew this is what he loved. He wanted to go as far as he could. There the dream came that one day he would own his own one stop custom shop.
Paint. Body. Interior. Wheels. Accessories.
To get the ball rolling, in 1999 David rented out a small storage space......How small? Lets just say you couldn't open the car doors all the way and stand inside the place at the same time. He would do side jobs for friends and attended a few car shows here and there. Word got out quickly and in just 2 shorts years David said good bye to his day job and entered the world of self employment. Now he was the boss. He opened up his first shop one month before his marriage to Cindy M. Balet
Tops Custom Upholstery was located in central West Palm Beach. With David, Cindy, and three employees they opened their doors to a hungry market. Tops Custom Upholstery offered upholstery for auto, marine, and accessories. "We were always busy, from day one!," recalls Cindy. "I remember going to the shop and it being filled with cars and people late into the evening!" From the go David's shop attracted all walks of life, young or old. Owners of imports, classics, hot rods and domestics. David was known for producing wild to mild interiors, award wining work that has been featured in magazines as well as t.v.
Soon he started receiving motorcycle work as well. David did his first seat for a Harley Davidson in 2001, and has never looked back. "Saddles are the best, you can really bring out a customer's paint job with the right choice of exotic skins and leathers," states David. Shortly after David was picking up a new hobby, hand tooled leather seats. He never knew the importance and demand that was out there for this kind of work. With the explosion of the "Chopper" industry, Tops Custom Upholstery was rolling high. But David's life was changing.
Cindy, was on her 2nd pregnancy in 2003 and the need for more family time was in high demand. That put David at three children under his belt. So David made a risky choice only two years into his shop being opened, he decided to make a move by 2004. "I wanted a place that was a quiet family town, slow paced and safe for my kids." David recalls,"there was a need for a shop to do what I did up there, so I had two shops going at once while I took the plunged into a smaller one man show in Sebastian. Well that "smaller show" didn't last.
A few years later, Tops Custom Upholstery now known as Tops Inc is located in Micco with over 10,000 square feet of playing room, David now has his "one stop custom shop." Tops Inc is building a solid reputation for themselves. producing some fine work. With 4 Guys and 1 Lady they do it all , Paint & Body, Interior, Wheels, Apparel, Accessories, and they even have a 50's Ice Cream Parlor inside their 1,400 square foot show room. Cindy explains " We have been collecting auto, coca cola, and pin up memorabilia along the way and it's on display in our showroom, we definitely love anything old! Hotrods, Ratrods and pin-ups, it definitely draws us in."
David is proud of what he has accomplished. Being able to use his creativity and express his love for what he does has been a blessing. "It's always nice to get paid for having fun!," says David. And that's what they are doing at Tops Inc. Having fun, all while turning out custom quality work!
At the age of 17 David's family moved to the east coast, West Palm Beach. There he found work doing the same, as well as marine upholstery. His previous employers described him as "a great kid," "hard working," and "always did his best." David was a sponge, learning what he could, working with great people in the industry. During these years his creative side took flight, and like most, his first custom job was his own car, a 1989 300ZX in 1995. At the age of 18 years old, David knew this is what he loved. He wanted to go as far as he could. There the dream came that one day he would own his own one stop custom shop.
Paint. Body. Interior. Wheels. Accessories.
To get the ball rolling, in 1999 David rented out a small storage space......How small? Lets just say you couldn't open the car doors all the way and stand inside the place at the same time. He would do side jobs for friends and attended a few car shows here and there. Word got out quickly and in just 2 shorts years David said good bye to his day job and entered the world of self employment. Now he was the boss. He opened up his first shop one month before his marriage to Cindy M. Balet
Tops Custom Upholstery was located in central West Palm Beach. With David, Cindy, and three employees they opened their doors to a hungry market. Tops Custom Upholstery offered upholstery for auto, marine, and accessories. "We were always busy, from day one!," recalls Cindy. "I remember going to the shop and it being filled with cars and people late into the evening!" From the go David's shop attracted all walks of life, young or old. Owners of imports, classics, hot rods and domestics. David was known for producing wild to mild interiors, award wining work that has been featured in magazines as well as t.v.
Soon he started receiving motorcycle work as well. David did his first seat for a Harley Davidson in 2001, and has never looked back. "Saddles are the best, you can really bring out a customer's paint job with the right choice of exotic skins and leathers," states David. Shortly after David was picking up a new hobby, hand tooled leather seats. He never knew the importance and demand that was out there for this kind of work. With the explosion of the "Chopper" industry, Tops Custom Upholstery was rolling high. But David's life was changing.
Cindy, was on her 2nd pregnancy in 2003 and the need for more family time was in high demand. That put David at three children under his belt. So David made a risky choice only two years into his shop being opened, he decided to make a move by 2004. "I wanted a place that was a quiet family town, slow paced and safe for my kids." David recalls,"there was a need for a shop to do what I did up there, so I had two shops going at once while I took the plunged into a smaller one man show in Sebastian. Well that "smaller show" didn't last.
A few years later, Tops Custom Upholstery now known as Tops Inc is located in Micco with over 10,000 square feet of playing room, David now has his "one stop custom shop." Tops Inc is building a solid reputation for themselves. producing some fine work. With 4 Guys and 1 Lady they do it all , Paint & Body, Interior, Wheels, Apparel, Accessories, and they even have a 50's Ice Cream Parlor inside their 1,400 square foot show room. Cindy explains " We have been collecting auto, coca cola, and pin up memorabilia along the way and it's on display in our showroom, we definitely love anything old! Hotrods, Ratrods and pin-ups, it definitely draws us in."
David is proud of what he has accomplished. Being able to use his creativity and express his love for what he does has been a blessing. "It's always nice to get paid for having fun!," says David. And that's what they are doing at Tops Inc. Having fun, all while turning out custom quality work!
Tops Inc. © 2009 : sales@topsinc.net : 772-589-3424 | Website Design by : www.SkylineDesign.biz : 772-388-6180