A lower tax rate and an increase in leasing costs in Colorado Springs prompted Jose Garcia, owner of Denali Stone, to move his stone manufacturing facility to Falcon.The move also benefits customers. ìEveryone pays less,î Garcia said, when a lower tax rate is passed down to the consumer.At his warehouse in Falcon, Garcia has six employees creating the artificial stones from molds he purchases in Joplin, Mo. Manufacturing the stones locally also adds to lower consumer costs, Garcia said. The lighter-weight stones are less expensive to install, and they set up faster.The stones can be used indoors or outdoors ñ surrounding a garden wall, for example, or framing a fireplace.Since Denali Stone manufactures the stones on site, Garcia said he can customize orders and offer unique color mixes. He is proud of the companyís high quality manufacturing process. ìWhen you pay good money for a product, we have an obligation to deliver the best product we can,î Garcia said. ìQuality seems to be a thing of the past. People shouldnít have to settle.îOriginally from Mexico, Garcia spent 22 years in Alaska before moving to Colorado.A coin toss brought him to Colorado Springs. Flagstaff, Ariz., was on the losing side of the coin. After learning the rock fabrication process in Joplin, Garcia and his business partner from Alaska flipped a coin to determine which city would house their factory. They opened in Colorado Springs six years ago, and the Falcon location, off East Highway 24, has been open about three months. Along with the manufacturing space, the site offers a design area showcasing the stones. A grand opening is scheduled for the end of October.
