| Update
on new Bud's Powersports building
Progress is continuing on the new Bud’s Powersports building going up near the historical site along Highway 95 south of Cottonwood. With the roof and walls now up they are able to start pouring the concrete floor, which is being done in 25x100 foot sections according to Nate Gentry, service and parts manager. The hope is to start moving into the new building in late May or early June but it is likely to be July before they are open for business. They have recently added Polaris snowmobiles to go with the Arctic Cat line of snowmobiles. They have a preseason sale on both brands that ends April 15. Bud’s has sold Polaris ATV’s and UTV’s for several years but is only now adding the snowmobile line. Gentry said that the new building will have a 50x100 foot shop on the south end, which is twice the size of the current building’s 2500 square feet and is only a third of the new building’s 15,000 total square feet. The side facing the highway will have a main entrance with the parts department to be located to the right as you enter. There will also be a separate shop entrance. The remainder of the building not used for the shop and parts department will be devoted to a couple of offices plus a large indoor display area. Gentry said 90% of the new products will be inside. They will continue to do saw repair and repairs and service for Snapper lawn mowers and their other outdoor power equipment. The current crew will transfer to the new building. T.J. Schmidt has recently been hired to be the new shop foreman. Todd Stenzel will serve as the general manager while Gentry will be the parts and service manager. The business is owned by John and Coleen Law. They plan to have an expanded parts and service team and will be looking to hire qualified personnel. They estimate a 30% increase in business once they are in the new location. Once they are moved in and up and running an Open House will be held with some of the equipment vendors sending representatives. Bud Poxleitner opened the business in about 1969 or 1970 and had the current building built in 1972. Bud’s brother Errol took over the business in 1989 and sold the business a few years ago to the Laws. A deal is in the works for the current building but the warehouse located where the former Texaco service station was located is still available. Both those buildings are currently owned by Errol Poxleitner. 
The new Bud’s Powersports building south of town as of Tuesday morning. The walls, windows and roof are in place now and work is being done on the inside with the concrete floor being poured. The large door to the right will open into the 50x100 foot shop area. The other door shown will be the main entrance into the parts and display areas. The rock base has also been put down for the parking area. The new building is located on the east side of 95 just south of the historical site and at the intersection of old highway 95 and the current US 95. |
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