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Three businesses under one roof

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Monday, Nov. 21, 2011 11:05 PM
ROBERT VARNEY puts a chrome coat on a motorcycle frame before it gets baked on at Streamline Custom Coatings last week.
ABRAM WHITAKER of Streamline Custom Coatings holds out two of the many varieties of baked-on powder coating he can do at his business, which recently moved to Dolores.
EMPLOYEES at Fun Center and Streamline Custom Coatings pose last week inside the new store just outside Dolores. From bottom left is Lacy Stice, Arlee Whitaker, Abram Whitaker, Seth Wilkerson, Heather Lewis, Travis Wilbanks and Amy Lewis.
ABRAM WHITAKER pulls out the motorcycle frame after the paint has been baked on in one of their large ovens.
STYLIST TIFFANY EARLE does the hair of Veronica Nevarez, 6, at Studio U, which is located in the same buildings as Streamline Custom Coatings and Fun Center just outside Dolores.
HAZEN WHITAKER of Studio U! says she is happy to have her shop in Dolores, under the same roof as a motorcycle shop and paint shop.
HAZEN WHITAKER of Studio U says she is happy to have her shop in Dolores, under the same roof as a motorcycle shop and paint shop.

Where do you go if you need a haircut, a custom paint job and a snowmobile?

Well, in the past, you had to go to three very different, very far away places.

But rest assured, that is no longer the case.

The old Four Seasons Sports Center at the top of the hill above Dolores is open again after being vacant for nearly 15 years and under its 22,000-square-foot roof is Streamline Custom Coatings, a motorsports store called Fun Center, and a hair salon called Studio U!

Hazen Whitaker, owner of Studio U! says it is fun to have so many things under one roof.

“It’s fun to mix these kind of things,” she said this week, while cutting hair inside her shop.

The new businesses employ about 15 people.

On the other end of the building, probably about 400 yards away, a spray-on bed liner was being applied, a motorcycle frame was turning a glossy silver in the oven after being Powder Coated and customers perused a wide variety of motorcycles, four wheelers and snowmobiles.

“People love it and a lot of guys will get their hair cut or come with their wives when they get their hair cut,” Hazen said.

So it is the perfect combination, she said. In addition, it is a great combination because Whitaker gets to work with her husband, Abram Whitaker who owns Streamline Custom Coatings. The shop was originally in Cortez, but Hazen said the two are happy to be in Dolores, where they live.

“I love it,” Hazen said. “And the fact that I help him run his business helps. We work well together.”

Hazen said her salon is a full-service hair salon and she plans to bring in massage and body work soon. She also carries a wide variety of products and tools and accessories. And if she doesn’t have it, she said she will find it. She has been doing hair for 15 years and some come from far away for her scissor stylings.

“I come all the way from Ignacio to get my hair done,” said Chris Cugnini.

Hazen has one stylist, Tiffany Earle, working with her.

Hazen said if she thinks about it, her husband’s business of custom coatings and hers aren’t that much different.

“They are both about colors and making things look nice” she said.

Abram also says he is happy with the new location.

Streamline Custom Coatings first opened in Cortez four years ago.

The business offers spray on bed liners, powder coating, engine performance coatings, media blasting, home painting, wood and log restoration and stucco repair and finish.

One of the more popular applications is the Powder Coating. This is stronger than typical paint and is applied in powder form before it is baked on. Mostly, customers have such things as bike frames and car parts Powder Coated. But Abram said you can Powder Coat nearly anything that can go in a 400-degree oven. Such as metal counter tops or metal trash cans. Abram said he has even Powder Coated antlers and an egg.

“Powder Coating is super durable and flexible,” Abram said.

The Fun Center is the second location for owners Tonya and Lyle McKnight who own Fun Center in Durango.

Lyle said he is excited to have the new location in Dolores.

“We’ve always wanted to be over there,” he said. “We have a lot of customers from that area and now they don’t have to drive all the way to Durango.”

The Fun Center sells Kawasaki, SeaDoo, Suzuki, KTM, Polaris, Can-am, Ski-doo and Spyder products. There is also a service center to help repair any of your motorsports equipment, McKnight said.

The Fun Center Complex is located at 17602 Highway 145. Reach the Fun Center at 882-7030, Streamline Custom Coatings at 882-7797, Studio U! at 570-6037. Hours of business are Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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