Working in the auto body repair business, Vanessa “Hollywood” Rivera saw how uncomfortable some female customers can feel dealing with mechanics. So when the mother of two decided to start her own shop, Rivera went to great lengths to create a space that was welcoming to women.
She arranged for the sign outside Hollywood Collision in the 100 block of West Erie Avenue to be a hot pink color. Inside, Rivera set up a wine bar and a waiting room decorated with magenta metallic pillows and a green, leaf-covered wall. As a result, it looks more like a place to take a selfie than where you’d sit while your car is serviced. “I wanted to create a different approach to auto body work where people felt comfortable and safe, no matter if they were a woman or not,” Rivera told me.
She never dreamed that one day she’d be shot there — and by another woman, no less. On Aug. 17, a female customer allegedly got into a loud verbal dispute with a front-office employee that prompted Rivera to come running to find out what was happening. A scuffle ensued. A gun went off. Riviera had been hit. She fell to the floor. Luckily, the bullet entered her right leg above the knee and exited without causing any major damage. “It’s just really unfortunate because we’re a women-owned business and it was a woman,” she said…