Many business people are now looking to Falcon to set up shop. With a population that nearly doubled from 1990 to 2000, Falcon is rapidly becoming a prime market for new businesses or the expansion of already-established ones. “We were wanting to expand, and Falcon has a huge potential to have a great community and great businesses,” said Glenn Covert, owner of Arthur’s Collision.While some companies are expanding, others are trying to get their foot in the door. “I like the area and thought we needed to be out here,” said Jeff Berndsen, owner of The Body and Fender Shop. Some business owners also realize that opening their doors closer to home means avoiding the traffic battle to the Springs. Whatever the motivation, business owners are taking advantage of Falcon’s potential.Check out a few of Falcon’s latest business additions. Peak Gymnastics and FitnessOpen in April 2009 by owner/director Chris Kuhlmann and his wife Dani, Peak Gymnastics and Fitness is one of many new businesses just off Goldensage and Woodmen roads, at 10610 Maltese Point. With more than 30 years gymnastics experience, Kuhlmann and his wife wanted to bring their business expertise to the Falcon area because “that’s where the growth is,” he said. “We are committed to the area because of the sense of family and community. We consider Falcon to be our home.” Gymnastics training is the focus, but Kuhlmann said their objective is to train kids to meet all of their desired goals.Kuhlmann worked for many years in Woodland Park but decided to move to Falcon to “provide a service to families much like our family,” he said. Peak Gymnastics also offers other family activities such as birthday parties and a parents’ night out, where mom and dad can drop their kids off for a couple of hours in a safe and structured environment. Peak Gymnastics also sponsors high school sports events to support athletic achievement.www.mypeakgym.comP & D Maintenance Inc.Located at 10620 Maltese Point, P & D Maintenance offers a wide range of auto repair services. The store opened Jan. 11, and owner Chris Wright, also a member of the Falcon school board and secretary of the Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce, said he thought Falcon was the ideal place for his shop because he wanted “not just to be in the community, but to be part of the growing experience.” Wright also said he wanted to help Falcon keep money and resources within the community and create an identity for itself. P & D is Falcon’s only diesel repair shop. “It’s good to be able to establish ourselves now; and, as the Falcon community expands, you already have your brand name out there,” Wright said. In addition to the standard services, Wright said he offers towing and would like to break into the mobile service market. Coming to the customer on the spot allows for flexibility and support in emergency situations, he said.P & D is hosting a special event to showcase Mike Snelling’s racing team and car at the shop on June 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.P & D Maintenance is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mobile service is available during the same hours.www.panddmaintenance.comThe Body and Fender ShopA June 2009 off-shoot of one of Colorado Springs’ largest auto repair shops, the Falcon location of The Body and Fender Shop is at 10706 Maltese Point. Owned and operated by Jeff Berndsen, a Colorado native, the shop offers the standard auto body repair services, towing and mobile and in-house auto glass repair. Utilizing the expertise of ASE, I-CAR and Spies Hecker certified technicians, many of whom are from the Falcon area, the shop specializes in late model auto body collision repair. The Body and Fender Shop is also a preferred provider for most major insurance companies. With the Falcon shop, Berndsen said he wanted to serve more people in a broader area and be able to “provide people with immediate attention.” If the Falcon shop is overloaded, he said they’ll take the auto to the main shop and bring it back to Falcon. Hours of operation for The Body and Fender Shop are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. m to 12 p.m. “We bought this location and we plan on staying here. We’re just local people supporting other local people,” Berndsen said.www.thebodyandfendershop.comFalcon Collision CenterCo-owner Tim Finenberger and his business partner Keith Merritt felt that Falcon was “the area of growth for Colorado Springs,” said Finenberger. They opened the Falcon Collision Center in October 2009. Located at 10755 Maltese Point, the center does auto and collision repairs and paintless dent repair. They work with all insurance companies and file all claims. “We work on just about anything we can get in the building,” Finenberger said.The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with additional hours on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. They are ASE and I-CAR certified and provide a 100 percent customer guarantee.www.falconcollisioncenter.netAuto ProsAfter opening shop in December 2009, Auto Pros expanded to a full-sized shop in April at 10759 Maltese Point. Co-owner Alan Wilcox said he and his partner Alan Smith brought their shop to Falcon because of the expansion in the area. Offering “everything automotive,” Auto Pros provides full service work on all domestic and foreign autos.Along with competitive pricing and new state of the art alignment capabilities, Wilcox said they also have a wealth of experience. Wilcox and Smith have more than 40 combined years in automotive work experience.Auto Pros is open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 719-634-7900.Arthur’s CollisionGlenn Covert, owner of Arthur’s Collision, brought his third shop out to Falcon in January. Wanting to give back to the community he calls home, Covert set up shop at 10778 Maltese Point. He offers collision and paint repair. “What makes any business successful is the community it’s in and the support from the community,” Covert said. That attitude led him to initiate a community give-back program, where a certain percentage of the money received from each vehicle the shop repairs is put back into the community through different community-based programs.Arthur’s Collision is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment only.www.arthursautocollision.comJo-Jo’s TreatsFalcon’s newest ice cream shop, Jo-Jo’s Treats, at 6985 Meridian Road on the corner of Meridian and Highway 24, opened for business in May. Owner JoAnne George, a former bank employee, said, “I kept telling my husband that I would like to go into the neighborhoods and sell ice cream and novelty treats.” Instead of a truck, she bought a trailer. “I quit my job at the State Bank, and now I’m doing good,” George said.With a wide variety of soft serve and novelty ice cream options, Chicago-style hot dogs, nachos and organic doggie ice cream, George hopes to make Jo-Jo’s Treats a popular summertime hangout for families. The shop’s unique soft serve, Flavor Burst, features one of eight different flavors swirled around ice cream. To appeal to the canine-friendly families, George also keeps a supply of Sweet Spots doggie ice cream made from organic ingredients such as honey and peanut butter or sweet potato and molasses. Cats are welcome, too, since Jo-Jo’s also carries freeze-dried cat treats. “Living out here, a lot of people bring their animals with them,” she said. “Open year round Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m. – with extended summer hours until 8 p.m. or later (weather permitting); Jo-Jo’s offers a lunch special including a hot dog, chips and a drink for $4.50.AutoZoneNow open for business at 11735 Meridian Market View, AutoZone is located near the Walmart in Falcon. Although it offers the same products as other Auto Zones, store manager Clint Brooks, a Peyton resident, said he is partial to the new location because Auto Zone is a “community-oriented company.””All the people we hired are from Falcon or Peyton or somewhere in between,” he added. Brooks, after 33 years at Safeway, retired and began working for AutoZone in Alamosa, where he lived at the time. He transferred to the Springs, but then jumped at the chance to manage the Falcon store. “I love this area,” Brooks said. “I have a great crew, a great bunch of people working here.”AutoZone is open for business Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. While AutoZone has been open since April 27, the grand opening will be held June 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festivities include a barbeque with hot dogs and hamburgers and door prizes. www.autozone.com
