New construction has been seen on Northland Dr. and 19 Mile Rd. recently, which is going to be a new body shop building for JR Customs and Collision.

According to owner Jason Rehkopf, the new building will be used for every day, commercial vehicles. 

“I’ll be moving everything in my current building over to the new shop, with the exception of a brand-new paint booth, new frame and measuring equipment,” Rehkopf said. 

Rehkopf says he has invested 450,000 dollars in new equipment for the building, including a new welding unit. He also says he will keeping the old building to service bigger vehicles like busses and semi-tractors.

“It totally messes up with our production because it takes up the whole floor,” Rehkopf said. “The new facility will be all your everyday, general-public vehicles and then the existing the old shop will be more of our commercial, bigger stuff.”

While the timeline is fluid with reliance on weather, Rehkopf is hoping for completion somewhere between late-May and June.

“I'm in no real hurry to get in there since I know we won't be in for this winter, which is our busy season,” Rehkopf said. “I want to make sure that it is the shop is organized. There are so many things right now that fall through the cracks, because we just don't have the space to perform like we should.”

When asked about the shop growing and moving forward, Rehkopf said it’s been an incredible journey with the help of the people around him.

“Just over seven years ago, I was working out of my garage at home. I was able to rent the shop that we're in now, and then eventually buy it. Now, (it’s been) seven years in the community around us. Without their support and my employees, I wouldn't be here. We're blessed beyond belief.”

An open house for the building’s grand opening may take place later in the spring or early summer, but details or unknown at this time. JR Customs and Collision as well as Michigan ADAS Calibrations and Glass, both businesses of Jason and his wife Amber, are located at the corner of 19 Mile Rd. and Northland Dr. between Paris and Big Rapids.