J.F. Launier, the longtime owner of JF Kustoms and Reliable Brakes and Muffler in Osoyoos, has sold Reliable to Lukas Gedminas of Calgary. Gedminas will continue to run the brake and muffler shop and full service garage out of the current location at the corner of 62nd Avenue and 92nd Street. (Keith Lacey photo)
J.F. Launier likes working on cars, but he loves building hot rods and repairing sports cars.
So Launier is thrilled he will soon be embarking on the biggest business venture of his life now that Town of Osoyoos council has approved his rezoning application to open a new auto shop near the Osoyoos Airport property.
Launier is the longtime owner of JF Kustoms and Reliable Brakes and Mufflers, located on the corner of 62nd Avenue and 92nd Street just off Hwy. 97 across from the Osoyoos Baptist Church.
Launier also operates a small used vehicle dealership from that location.
Launier confirmed Wednesday he plans on opening a brand new automotive shop on a parcel of land located near the Osoyoos Airport.
Launier has sold Reliable Muffler and Brakes to Calgary businessman Lucas Gedminas, who plans on continuing to operate a brake and muffler shop as well as full service repair garage.
At a special meeting held Tuesday, town council voted to rezone the property near the airport to allow for an indoor automotive storage, repair and restoration shop as well as a small commercial retail outlet.
Launier said he has been looking for another location for JF Kustoms, which builds and repairs hot rods and expensive sports cars, for some time.
“I’ve been looking for an improved location somewhere off the beaten path for some time,” said Launier. “To try and run three businesses out of our current location, with its limited space and poor design, has been difficult to be honest.”
JF Kustoms has gained national and international notoriety over the past decade as Launier and his dedicated crew of employees, have worked together to build several world-class hot rods.
One of those vehicles – a 1967 Riviera – that he called Rivision captured the championship trophy as the best Hot Rod at the world-renowned Detroit Autorama three years ago.
Now that council has voted to approve his rezoning application, Launier said he is hoping to begin construction on his new shop “as soon as possible … I really want to be open by next spring.”
Longhorn Construction, which has a great reputation in the Osoyoos and Oliver area, will be the contractor he will hire to construct his new shop, said Launier.
Launier readily admitted the pending opening of the Area 27 racetrack facility in Oliver in 2017 is the biggest reason he is moving ahead with building a new shop.
“That was definitely the spark to move ahead with this,” he said. “I’ve already been in touch with a lot of the sports car owners who will be bringing their hot rods and sports cars to Area 27 and they’re going to need the expertise my shop can offer.”
Many of the car owners who will be using the Area 27 racetrack facility will also be looking for a place to store their vehicles and his new shop will be offering this service, he said.
He will also have a small retail outlet where he can sell T-shirts and other promotional items once the shop is open for business, he said.
Gedminas is a respected mechanic and will do a great job running the garage at its current location, he said.
“It was important to me to keep that business in Osoyoos … and help keep a few jobs in town,” he said.
Being able to work full-time on sports cars and hot rods is a dream come true, said Launier.
“Trying to run a full-time business working only on hot rods and higher end vehicles in a town like Osoyoos has never really been financially viable,” said Launier. “So I had to run a regular garage to help pay the bills. While I’ve always enjoyed that part of the business, being able to pursue my passion and work strictly with sports cars and hot rods is very exciting.”
The Wine Country Racing Association has been holding a handful of drag racing events using the landing strip at the Osoyoos Airport for the past several years.
Launier said he’s a founding member of that association and has every intention of working with that group to ensure drag racing will continue once his new shop is open for business.
Members of council were very supportive of Launier’s rezoning application, noting he has been a successful business owner in this town for more than 20 years.
“We’d like to see some activity up there (near the airport) and let the community know we’re serious about future development,” said Counc. Carol Youngberg.
Mayor Sue McKortoff indicated she was pleased with the addition of the new business to the industrial area, even though it involves the relocation of an existing Osoyoos business.
“We know most new businesses in Osoyoos are off-shoots of one’s that are already here,” she said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
J.F. Launier (right), the longtime owner of JF Kustoms in Osoyoos, is looking forward to building a new state-of-the-art shop on a parcel of land next to the Osoyoos Airport. Launier is seen looking at detailed building plans with longtime friend and JF Kustoms employee Mike Richens. Construction on the new shop should begin within weeks after Town of Osoyoos council approved Launier’s rezoning application. (Keith Lacey photo)
