Jim Kessler isn’t hiding out in his own shop anymore.
More than two years ago, that’s the impression that Modern Air Conditioning gave. Kessler’s office was buried in the back of the building. Dim light, dark paneling and narrow confines were a rule of thumb. Everything, it seemed, was either in the way or out of the way.
Flash forward to the present and more than $200,000 worth of remodeling. The walls have been gutted, the interior brightened. The large showroom boasts several attractive fireplace displays, almost giving it the feel of a living room. Kessler’s office is within sight of the front. More importantly, so is the supply and dispatch center, allowing quick assistance.
There are still a few things to do, some bricks around the back to be tuck pointed and the like. But right now, the renovation at 106 Commercial St. is more than satisfactory for Kessler and his workers.
“Not only do we want to make a good first impression on our customers, but it also has an effect on the morale of our employees,” Kessler said. “And we want to encourage others to invest south of the tracks.”
He knows he’s not the only one. J’s, Bad Ol’ Berns and others have also done their part to draw customers and attention south of the railroad tracks on Commercial Street. It’s a trend Kessler wants to encourage.
“There’s a lot of traffic that goes by here,” he said. “This is a good economic part of Emporia.”
It’s also a part that Kessler almost abandoned. He first joined the company in 1974 as a bookkeeper, then bought the business in 1996 with Bob Burenheide and Charlie Haag. The three men then continued to lease the building, Modern Air’s second home since opening in 1968, from the company’s former owners.
But the building, a former bakery, just didn’t seem to fit the company’s needs. Kessler and the others began thinking about starting from scratch with someplace bigger and newer.
“We were leaning more toward moving, building out west,” Kessler said. “But then we negotiated a deal with the owners.”
Soon, the renovation was under way.
Not all of it is readily visible. A computer connection near a meeting table in Kessler’s office allows employees to engage in online learning, something the company hopes to do more of.
“Things have changed so much in our business,” Kessler said.
By contrast, it’s hard to miss the feeling of spaciousness up front, or the working and nearly silent heater in the showroom. Even the fireplaces have their own touch — rather than simple “boxes,” most are set up with realistic mantels in a number of styles, something Kessler had seen in a fireplace store in Kansas City owned by friends of his.
“They’re set up so people can envision what they will look like when installed,” he said.
The renovations aren’t as obvious in the back, where parts are made and supplies are stored. But there are a few surprises. One of Kessler’s favorites is the computerized plasma cutter.
The operation is simple. Take a piece of metal. Lay it flat on the cutter. Program into the computer just exactly how you want the metal to look when it’s done. Then start it up and stand back.
In a matter of seconds, the cutter traces the lines and folds onto the metal in a shower of orange sparks. A brand new part has been made, in far less time than it would have taken by hand — and with less leftover metal.
“It was expensive, but it was the best investment we ever made,” Kessler said. “It saves on waste, it saves on his hands, and it goes much more quickly.”
It all could have been elsewhere. Instead, it’s become a success story.
“This worked out good for us,” Kessler said. “I can see us being here another 38 years.”