Shannon’s Auto Body is expanding, doubling its employees and renovating a vacant retail store-turne-office space to do it.
The move will enhance east Brainerd by putting life back into the former Pamida turned Ascensus office space near the Mill Avenue and Highway 210 intersection. The site is southeast of the East Brainerd Mall.
The new location will primarily be collision repair and mechanical repairs with the latest state-of-the-art equipment for that and for mechanical work with the advanced driver assistance systems and work on calibrations. The move will free up space in the existing location, 13540 Ironwood Drive, to accommodate items there just wasn’t room for such as boats and recreational vehicles. Shannon’s has just outgrown its current space. With the expansion, the business will increase from 16,000 square feet to an additional 40,000 square feet for 2.5 times the space.
Shannon’s plans to hire about 25 people for the expansion, doubling its employee count. And with the tight labor force, Shannon’s is also being proactive by doing in-house training, cross-training and providing apprentice training. The apprentices are then trained for Shannon’s operations and with advanced and specialized skills. The apprentice program takes individuals with the basics and schooling and pairs with a tech with years of training as they expand their knowledge. Manufacturers also help with the training.
Shannon Christian started Shannon’s Auto Body in 1996 and grew the business into a 17,000 square foot facility with about 25 employees utilizing the latest auto repair technology and are committed to repairing your vehicle safely and correctly to its pre-collision condition.
The days of simple repair and just putting on a new bumper are nearly a by-gone era as vehicles become more technologically advanced. A lot of the product and equipment Shannon’s Auto Body needs comes from Europe, with the pandemic and now the war in Ukraine, what took six weeks to get now takes six months. Containers of equipment that once cost $4,500 are now $19,000 for a container.
Given the time it takes to plan for the new facility and then get things, like garage doors for example, with the supply shortages, the new facility is expected to be ready by early 2023.
Multiple sources stated a QuikTrip, the convenience store noted for its expansive offerings along with its gas station, was anticipated to open on the site and would likely have been a nice draw for that side of the city, but the uncertainty in Brainerd with the Minnesota Department of Transportation favoring a roundabout at Mill and Highway 210 instead of the desired signal light intersection there in east Brainerd cooled the interest in the property.
Shannon’s has been working on the plans since their offer was accepted in December. Since then, it’s been designing the shop, traveling to other operations around the country to see how they do it, and moving forward with the expansion plans.
Look for more details in the future as the work continues.
Dairy Queen is now open on Washington Street, a sure sign that spring is here.
Northland Sotherby’s International Realty opened in Crosslake as the brand’s fourth affiliated office in the state. Northland Sotheby’s International Realty is owned and operated by Adam and Jacqueline Kalenberg. The Kalenbergs report bringing a collective 16 years of experience to the company. Their office will serve the surrounding region, including Crosslake, the Brainerd lakes area, Baxter, Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point, Nisswa, East Gull Lake, and Lake Shore.
“Crosslake and the Brainerd lakes area are known for their pristine waters, luxury lake homes, historic resorts, and championship golf, making it a prime summer location,” said Adam Kalenberg, in a news release. “Our affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty will help to shine a global spotlight on our region and all that it has to offer. We look forward to becoming a part of the brand’s vast international network to best support our buyers and sellers.”
Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty, stated “there is a continued trend of luxury buyers’ attraction to emerging markets, and Minnesota is no exception.”
“For the past several years, there has been interest in the market among second home buyers and investors from California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, and New York,” White stated in the news release. “Our expansion in the state positively positions the brand to meet this demand and I look forward to supporting Adam, Jacqueline, and the Northland Sotheby’s International Realty team.”
The Sotheby’s International Realty® network currently has more than 25,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in more than 1,000 offices in 79 countries and territories worldwide.
Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchBizBuzz.