As a youngster, Domingo Diaz helped out wherever he could at his father's food market at Peachtree and Sixth streets.
In 1980, Diaz Market became Diaz Foods, a national distributor of Mexican, Cuban, Chinese, Japanese, Jamaican and Asian foods. Mr. Diaz, who had started out mopping floors and stocking shelves, became an executive at the nationally-ranked Hispanic firm, now located off Fulton Industrial Boulevard.
But in the early 1980s, he sold his shares in the family business to satisfy an entrepreneurial spirit. Through the years, he owned, or was a partner in, a local auto repair shop, a daycare center and two restaurants.
"Instead of having a 9-to-5, my father just started businesses up," said a son, Michael Diaz of Marietta. "He was the typical entrepreneur. He'd get bored with whatever he was doing and start something up from scratch."
Several years ago, Domingo Diaz was diagnosed with Pick's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. He died Friday at his home in Atlanta of complications of the disease. He was 58. A Catholic mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta. A.S. Turner & Sons is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Diaz was born in Placetas, Cuba, a city in the center of the country. The family fled Cuba shortly before Fidel Castro came to power, and they settled in Atlanta. His first job was delivering The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In 1971, Mr. Diaz graduated from North Fulton High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Georgia State University while working at Diaz Market, which his late father started in 1969.
After leaving the family business, Mr. Diaz was a partner in Volvo Repairs, which still exists off Briarcliff Road. Then he owned Little Folks Village, a daycare center in Lithonia.
For nearly 20 years, he co-owned Coco Loco, a Cuban/Caribbean restaurant in Buckhead. And in 2003, the entrepreneur sold his last endeavor, Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, on Cheshire Bridge Road.
"He was a risk-taker and he definitely liked being his own boss," said a daughter, Maria Nunes of Chatham, N.J. "He found that very rewarding. He held what he learned at Georgia State in high regard."
As a manager, Mr. Diaz was easy-going, though not a push-over.
"He was the one who tried to listen to employees and their suggestions," his son said. "He typically wanted you to work from the ground up. I learned my work ethic from him."
When it came to hobbies, this businessman liked speed. At some point he owned a Corvette, Barracuda, a vintage Mustang and a Thunderbird.
"It was the norm for him to drive fast," his son said. "We came to accept that, just like we accepted him starting new businesses."
Additional survivors include his wife of 37 years, Mercedes Guzman of Atlanta; another son, David Diaz of Atlanta; two other daughters, Julie Shelhamer of Woodstock, Va., and Linda Diaz of Atlanta; and three grandchildren.
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