The New Store, The Saga
On February 22nd 2011, I was driving to the shop as usual when I noticed "My building" had a for sale sign in front of it. I had driven by the building everyday for 13+ years and thought what a cool hobby shop that would make. Well, it took me until Thursday to call about it. I had know idea what it would cost. 1 million, 2 million clearly know idea. But, I figured I might as well find out, so I called. I talked with the real estate agent and found out the price. I did some quick mental math and discovered, "Hey that is cheaper than rent." He asked if I would like to see inside and I told him sure. An hour later the phone rang. It was the agent. He told me that they had had a sealed bid come in and that the bidder wanted an answer by 5:00 an Friday. The agent said I had called first and he wanted to give me an opportunity to put in a bid. So, now I go from happy go lucky to having to make a life altering decision with only one night to sleep on it. I thought about it all night and Friday, then about 4 I called to tell the agent thank you but that I just couldn't make that kind of decision in 12 hrs. He had met me, seen our store and new what a perfect place this would be for us. He used his best salesmanship and talked me into making a bid. I heard from him about 7 and he says he is meeting with the owner to go over some paperwork. I said what about the other bid? "He liked yours better." What have I done? I am thinking .
Now it is Saturday, my 40th birthday, I get a call about 1pm saying "Congratulations, you just bought a building!" Wow, what a birthday present.
A few weeks pass, I am set to close on April 1st. Probably not the best day to close. A friend of mine who happens to be a civil engineer comes in to the shop and says. "I'm not comfortable with you buying this property on the bounds and means. We really should go talk to the city." The next day we are at the city, at a big table with all the city folk. They tell me they do not have a problem with me only buying the front of the property and leaving the back half with the owner. (Dave's concern) However, since I would be the third owner of the building I would have to bring the parking lot up to the code of today. The closing is off. We have to figure out if it is even possible to use the building.
Dave goes to work trying to figure out how to meet the criteria of the city. We need 22 parking spaces, 23 bushes, 4 trees, sidewalks, etc... We meet with this same group the next three Wednesday's. While walking out, one of the city people stops me and says " You've gotten a lot closer than anybody else." Great.
I go to two Planning and Zoning meetings, and one City Council Meeting to ask for a couple of variances. The city council meeting started a continuance of the last meeting at 6:00pm our council meeting didn't start till 10:15pm. Once the meeting starts it take 5 minutes to get my variance. We are on plan #11 before we get the green light from the city, and it is September. I finally close on the building the end of September. We go to work on the inside while the final details are being hashed out on the outside. We worked every Wednesday and Sunday tearing down the old walls and building new ones. I had a great number of people come and help. My Dad, Chris, and Jim where there every step of the way. My Mom bringing the troops lunch. And then others came by and helped as well, Larry and Jarret with the ceiling, Jay played electrician. Tony built walls. I could not have done it without every ones help.
So now, Monday January 23rd the paving guys are starting. They say everything on the outside will be done on the 31st. We will be moving the store on Sunday January 29th. By the time the outside is done, I should have the inside ready too. I hope to have our CO and be ready to go Friday February 4th, almost a year later. It has been quite the experience.
So the rain slowed the paving guys down. The asphalt was put down today Feb. 2nd. We are still working on the inside putting things in their places. Landscapers are coming. I hope to have my Certificate of Occupancy Monday so we can open Tuesday, Feb. 7th.
Here are some pictures of the past year.
Now the work begins.
The new store is a mile closer to I-35 and on the opposite side of 121 from the old store.
Pinion will be doing a video on how to enter the parking lot.
Coming from I-35 you will take the first left after Burger King. Turn onto Country Ridge Rd and then left into the car wash and on to the back of the store.
Coming from the old store simply turn right into our parking lot. Look for Hot Shot Bar and Grill, it looks like a KFC because it used to be one. Just passed the Hot Shots is Country Ridge Road, the car wash and then Aero Hobbies.
The front of the store is 47 feet of bright
yellow awning, hard to miss.
The Aero Hobbies lettering is 15 ft long and 5 ft tall.
We will have a 35 by 47 ft warehouse to fly in. Not huge but certainly larger than my living room.
We have expanded our Cheers like atmosphere as we have two flat screens on the wall for watching hobby vids as well as the occasional football game.
Hope to see you soon.