Business
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
A7
‘American Pickers’ Fossil Shift Bike Shop all about customer service
coming to Oregon
By Dave Fisher
Blue Mountain Eagle
Will Grant County
be among the
areas visited?
Blue Mountain Eagle
The American Pickers team
is coming to Oregon, and may-
be even Grant County, if Cham-
ber president Jerry Franklin has
anything to say about it.
“It’s one of my favorites,”
Franklin says of the popular TV
show.
The Grant County Chamber
of Commerce was contacted
recently by American Picker’s
Productions who will be com-
ing to Oregon and they are
looking for interesting places
to visit and ¿lm for possible use
on the show American Pickers,
which appears on the History
channel.
“American Pickers” is a
documentary series that ex-
plores the fascinating world
of antique “picking.” This hit
show follows two of the most
skilled pickers in the business,
Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz,
as they embark on an epic road
trip across the U.S. in search
of America’s most valuable
antiques from motorcycles,
classic cars and bicycles to
one-of-a-kind vintage memo-
rabilia. Mike and Frank are on
a mission to recycle America,
restore forgotten relics to their
former glory, and learn a thing
or two about American history
along the way.
The Pickers team is cur-
rently looking for leads prior
to their Oregon visit. They
are on the hunt for interesting
characters with interesting and
unique items. Some of what
they look for: vintage bicycles,
toys, unusual radios, movie
memorabilia, advertising, mil-
itary items, folk art, vintage
musical equipment, vintage
automotive items, early ¿re-
¿ghting equipment, vintage
clothing and pre-50’s western
gear.
If you have a large collec-
tion or want to refer someone to
Mike and Frank you can contact
Jerry Franklin locally at Eastern
Oregon Realty, 541-575-2121,
or email: your name, number,
address and description of the
collection and photos to amer-
icanpickers#cineÀix.com, or
call 855-old-rust.
Please note that Mike and
Frank only pick private collec-
tions so no stores, malls, Àea
markets, museums, auctions,
businesses or anything open to
the public.
Annual Chamber
fundraiser just
around the corner
The Grant County Cham-
ber of Commerce is gearing
up for its annual rafÀe and
local area residents will be
able to buy tickets at local
businesses and other outlets
soon, according to Chamber
president Jerry Franklin.
“It was very well received
last year and we’re hoping
JOHN DAY – In business
since April, Russ Comer and Joe
Hittle of Fossil Shift Bike Shop
are enjoying the opportunity to
serve Grant County bicyclists,
even if it’s on a part-time basis.
Neither was willing to give up
their day jobs, but that’s okay.
“We’ve got a rotating sched-
ule,” said Comer. “Joe is usually
here one day a week and I’m
here Saturdays from 10 to 3, or
you can call either one of us and
make an appointment.”
Their location next door
to the John Day Chamber of
Commerce has been home to a
bike shop in recent years. Local
resident Mike Cosgrove ¿rst
opened the bike repair shop and
then handed it over to Value
Added. Now it’s Comer’s and
Hittle’s turn, as they not only
look forward to continuing the
tradition of serving bicyclists in
the John Day area but expand-
ing the business as well.
Currently, in addition to bike
repairs, Fossil Shift performs
tune-ups and offers used bicy-
cles and consignment bikes for
sale.
“It’s a good part-time busi-
ness to be in but the cyclists that
come through aren’t enough
to sustain it as a full-time busi-
ness,” said Hittle.
Down the road, the two are
looking to add general outdoor
goods to the mix, including run-
ning gear, hydration needs and
apparel. For the time being, the
focus is to build up their parts
inventory in order to better serve
customers.
The Eagle/Dave Fisher
Joe Hittle (left) and Russ Comer are the owners of Fossil Shift Bike Shop in John Day.
Comer points to the ¿rst dol-
lar bill the business earned that
is posted on a wall and says with
a laugh, “If we stopped ordering
parts, we might have another
dollar in the bank to match it.”
The dream, of course, is to
make a pro¿t and grow the busi-
ness.
“I enjoy the mechanic aspect
of the business and am just hap-
py to serve the community,” said
Comer.
Ditto for Hittle.
“We do a little bit of every-
thing and our goal is to get cus-
tomer bikes in and out as soon as
possible,” Hittle added.
In their spare time, which
there isn’t a whole lot of, both
enjoy recreational riding.
“I try to get out, but not as
much as I’d like too… it’s hard,”
for another great year,” said
Franklin of the Chamber
fundraiser.
Last year, the Chamber
grossed over $10,000. Up-
wards of 100 prizes were do-
nated by Grant County busi-
nesses in 2014 increasing the
odds for ticket holders to win
a prize, said Franklin.
Hittle, the father of two young
children, said.
A weekend or two ago,
Comer got over to the Bend area
and tried out the bike park at Mt.
Bachelor. Locally, his favorites
are the N. Fork Mahheur trail
and the Bates State Park/Ritter
Hot Springs ride.
The business partners hope
to see more bicycle paths come
to Grant County in the not-so-
distant future, especially for
younger riders, an important
segment of the overall mar-
ket. To help foster enthusiasm
for the sport among younger
riders, Fossil Shift, in cooper-
ation with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation, helps
promote ODOT’s bike safety
program and offers helmets for
sale.
To schedule an appointment,
one can call either Comer at
541-620-0014, or Hittle at 541-
620-4067. Feel free to leave a
message; one or both will get
back to you.
“Customer satisfaction is
very important to us,” said
Comer.
A MAN
WAKES
UP in the
morning
after sleeping on...
an advertised bed, in advertised
pajamas.
He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR,
have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an
ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his
ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an
ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person
hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his
non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE.
Then it’s too late.
AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK?
DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE
Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it!
Blue Mountain Eagle
FAMILY
HEALTH
MyEagleNews.com
Treatment and Surgery of Foot
and Ankle • In-Grown Nails
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MICHAEL RUSHTON, DPM
Podiatric physician & Surgeon
Dr. Rushton is Preferred Providerfor Lifewise and Blue
Cross/Blue Shield and a Medicate participant.
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OFFICE HOURS: EVERY OTHER TUESDAY
Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710
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2015
N TA I N
U
O
M
R
A
C I N N A B D AY S
P L AY
Registration opens at 9:00 a.m.
Rodeos start promply at 10:00 a.m .
Photo by Tanni Wenger
• August 2nd, Grant
County Fairgrounds
• August 22 & 23rd,
Grant County
Fairgrounds
eo
o
Events include:
Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Goat Tying, Dummy Roping, Keyhole,
Flag Race, and Figure 8
eomediagroup.com
Membership: $30 individual / $45 family ~ Entry Fees: $2/
event or $10/ day
For more information, contact:
• Didgette McCracken - 541-575-3520
• Janet Plocharsky - 541-792-0077
• Shilo Burton - 541-620-1617
• Emma Winkleman - 541-620-1199
• Scott Moore - 541-620-0433
• Justin Jacobs - 541-620-1014
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or email CMP at cmplaydays@gmail.com
or find us on FaceBook!
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group
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